UNGA Resolution A/ES-10/L.33: Demand for Ceasefire in Gaza

The following is the full text of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/ES-10/L.33: Demand for Ceasefire in Gaza, adopted on December 11, 2024. The resolution reiterates a previous demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages (which can also be interpreted to include Palestinian prisoners who committed terrorist attacks). Still, it falls short of conditioning the release of hostages in return for the ceasefire. It also stresses the need for accountability and requests that the UN Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights present “proposals on how the United Nations could help advance accountability through existing mechanisms and the establishment of new mechanisms.” The Resolution was adopted with 158 countries supporting it, 9 countries opposing it, and 13 countries abstaining. 

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and recalling its resolutions regarding the question of Palestine, and all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,  

Reaffirming that all parties to armed conflicts must comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and underscoring the importance of holding accountable those responsible for all violations of international law,

Deploring all attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as all violence and hostilities against civilians, and all acts of terrorism, reaffirming its rejection of forced displacement of the civilian population, including children, in violation of international law including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and recalling that the taking of hostages is prohibited under international law,

Recalling the orders of provisional measures of the International Court of Justice in the case of the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel) of 26 January, 28 March and 24 May 2024  delivered by the Court given its determination that there is a real and imminent risk that irreparable prejudice will be caused to the rights found by the Court to be plausible, namely the right of the Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide and related prohibited acts mentioned in Article III of the Convention, and recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 19 July 2024 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and underscoring that respect for the International Court of Justice and its functions, including the obligations under international law indicated in the exercise of its advisory jurisdiction and in its orders of provisional measures, is essential to international law and to an international order based on the rule of law;

Expressing its deep alarm over the ongoing catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the lack of adequate healthcare services and the extreme state of food insecurity creating an imminent risk of famine notably in the north, and its grave impact on children, women and other civilians,

Commending the ongoing efforts of the United Nations under the leadership of its Secretary-General, and regional and international actors, achieve an immediate ceasefire, secure the release of the hostages and address the catastrophic humanitarian situation, emphasizing the imperative and obligations of all parties allowing and facilitating the provision of humanitarian assistance by UN agencies and other humanitarian actors, further emphasizing that actions obstructing the operations of these actors may contravene the Charter of the United Nations and undermine international peace and security, expressing deep alarm at the number of humanitarian workers killed in Gaza, and recalling its demand that all parties to the conflict comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, including with regard to humanitarian access, the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and their freedom of movement,

1. Demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire to be respected by all parties; and further reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages;

2. Demands also that the parties fully comply with their obligations under international law in relation to persons they detain, including by releasing all those arbitrarily detained and all human remains;

3. Demands immediate access by the civilian population in the Gaza Strip to basic services and humanitarian assistance indispensable to its survival, while rejecting any effort to starve Palestinians, and further demands the facilitation of full, rapid, safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance, at scale and under the coordination of the United Nations, to and throughout the Gaza Strip and its delivery to all Palestinian civilians who need it, including to civilians in besieged north Gaza, who are in urgent need of immediate humanitarian relief;

4. Calls on all parties to fully comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians, especially women and children, and persons hors de combat as well as civilian objects;

5.   Demands that the parties fully, unconditionally, and without delay implement all the provisions of Security Council resolution 2735 (2024) regarding an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the return of the remains of hostages who have been killed, the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, including in the north, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza;

6.   Underscores that UNRWA remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, rejects actions that undermine the implementation of the Agency’s mandate, welcomes the Secretary-General’s and Agency’s commitment to fully implement the recommendations of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, and calls on all parties to enable UNRWA to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the General Assembly, in all areas of operation, with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and to respect international humanitarian law, including the protection of UN and humanitarian facilities;

7. Stresses the need for accountability, and requests the Secretary-General, in this regard, to present, in the written assessment regarding the implementation of the present resolution, and in cooperation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, proposals on how the United Nations could help advance accountability through existing mechanisms and through the establishment of new mechanisms, based on its experience in other situations;

8. Reiterates its unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution, with the Gaza Strip as part of the Palestinian State, and where two democratic States, Palestine and Israel, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and the relevant UN resolutions, and in this regard rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of the Gaza Strip and stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority,

9. Requests a written assessment from the Secretary-General on the implementation of this resolution within three weeks of its adoption;

10. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive written report within 60 days of the adoption of this resolution which should include a needs assessment for Gaza in the short, medium and long-term, an elaboration of the humanitarian, social and economic consequences of the conflict in Gaza, and an overview of the work of different parts of the UN system relevant to Gaza along with recommendations on how to strengthen coordination across these parts;

11. Decides to adjourn the tenth emergency special session temporarily and to authorize the President of the General Assembly at its most recent session to resume its meeting upon request from Member States.