Mapped: The countries that voted for and against a ceasefire in Gaza
A vote held at the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday has seen a majority of countries demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as the Hamas-Israel war continues.
More than 80% of the 193 members of the UN General Assembly backed the move, which was vetoed by the US on the Security Council last week.
For the General Assembly vote, the US voted against the resolution, along with Israel and eight other countries. However, there were 153 votes in favour, prompting a a round of applause when the results were announced. Another 23 countries – including the UK – abstained.
While the US voted against the resolution, which is not binding but carries political weight, US president Joe Biden warned in a fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign ahead of the vote that Israel was losing international support because of "indiscriminate bombing that takes place”.
Israel launched retaliatory strikes in Gaza from the air and imposed a siege and launched a ground offensive after Hamas militants launched an attack on 7 October. Israel says the attack killed 1,200 people and saw 240 people taken hostage, while Gaza's health ministry claims that 18,205 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s strikes.
The map below shows who voted for and against the resolution.
What have countries said about ceasefire in Gaza?
UK
The government has supported temporary “humanitarian pauses” in fighting so that aid can be delivered and hostages released. However, it has stopped short of calling for a ceasefire, arguing that Hamas would not adhere to it. The position of the government is that Israel has a right to defend itself, but should not break international law in doing so.
US
The US has also said it does not support a full ceasefire in Gaza and, in line with the UK, has urged for pauses in fighting instead. Last month, Biden again refused to back calls for a ceasefire, arguing that Hamas poses a continuing threat to Israel. However, ahead of the UN vote, Biden took a harder line and said that Israel was losing the support of the international community.
EU
A meeting of EU leaders in October agreed to humanitarian pauses calls but did not back a full ceasefire. However, with 27 countries forming the bloc, the difference of opinions has meant the EU has not been able to form a united position on a ceasefire. Nevertheless, pressure is mounting after the prime ministers of Spain, Belgium, Ireland and Malta called on European Council president Charles Michel to have a “serious debate” about the Israel-Hamas conflict. The four leaders wrote: “It is time for the European Union to act. Our credibility is at stake.”
United Arab Emirates
The UAE is calling for a Gaza ceasefire and urged the UN Security Council to vote for a draft resolution demanding one. The motion, while widely backed, was vetoed by the US. However, the UAE is continuing its push and is calling for a two-state solution to the conflict. UAE ambassador to the UN, Lana Nusseibeh, told the Wall Street Journal: “The message is going to be very clear: we need to see a viable two-state solution plan, a roadmap that is serious, before we talk about the next day and rebuilding the infrastructure of Gaza.”
Qatar
Qatar, which has funded Hamas and hosts the group's leadership in its capital Doha, are calling for more pauses in fighting so that more hostages can be released and more aid can flow into Gaza. Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said efforts to bring peace “are continuing”, but added that “the continuation of the bombardment is just narrowing this window for us”. He said that Qatar is “committed to stop the war,” but “we are not seeing the same willingness from both parties”.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has reiterated the country’s calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. Speaking at the UN, the prince said Israel were violating international humanitarian law, telling members: “The bitter reality in the Gaza Strip will affect international security and the credibility of UN bodies by allowing the selective execution of the international law.”
China
China has previously called for a ceasefire in Gaza and said it was willing to do “whatever is conducive” to restore peace to the region. Following a peace summit in Cairo in October, China’s special envoy on the Middle East, Zhai Jun, said: “China believes that force is not a way to resolve the problem and that responding to violence with violence will only lead to a vicious circle of revenge.” On Monday, China's representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, was asked by reporters if he had a message to nations which opposed a ceasefire in Gaza. He responded: "Enough is enough."
Iran
Iran, which backs the Hamas group, has demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for emergency aid to be delivered to Palestinians. Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian condemned Israel’s retaliatory strikes and urged countries in the Middle East to pressure the US and Israel to reach peace in the conflict.
