4 EU nations voted 'No' to UN resolution for humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza Strip

By Omer Tugrul Cam

BRUSSELS (AA) - Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Croatia voted "No" to a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip among the 27 EU member states.

The UN General Assembly’s resolution for an "urgent, durable, and permanent humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza" was adopted late Friday.

The resolution, which urged the cessation of hostilities, was brought by Jordan and co-sponsored by nearly 50 countries, including Türkiye.

It received 120 "Yes" votes, 45 "abstentions," and 14 "No" votes, with Israel and the US among those opposing in the 193-member General Assembly. Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen called the approval “despicable” and rejected it.

Among the 14 countries that voted against the cease-fire were Israel, the US, Fiji, Guatemala, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Tonga.

Wight EU members supported the cease-fire, including Belgium, Ireland, France, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain.

Among the 45 countries that abstained, 15 were from the EU, including Germany, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Bulgaria, Greek Cypriot Administration, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden.

At least 7,703 Palestinians, including 3,595 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks, while ​​​​​​​the death toll in Israel stands at more than 1,400.

Gaza's 2.3 million residents are also grappling with shortages of food, water and medicine due to Israel’s blockade of the enclave. Only a few aid trucks have crossed into Gaza since the opening of the Rafah crossing point with Egypt last weekend.