The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling on Israel to allow unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and to respect United Nations facilities, reinforcing Israel’s obligations under international law as an occupying power.
The resolution, introduced by Norway and co-sponsored by more than a dozen countries, was adopted with the support of 139 member states. Only 12 countries, including Israel and the United States, voted against it, while 19 abstained.
The text urges Israel to fully facilitate humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, halt attacks on UN premises and personnel, and comply with international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. The vote follows an advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October, which clarified Israel’s legal responsibilities in occupied territories.
Norway’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Merete Fjeld Bratseth, said the resolution was necessary amid growing violations of humanitarian principles. Referring to recent incidents, including Israeli forces entering the UNRWA compound in Sheikh Jarrah, she warned that civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. “Civilians are paying the highest price,” she said.
The United States opposed the resolution, with US envoy Jeff Bartos describing it as unfairly singling out Israel, despite recent diplomatic efforts and existing UN Security Council measures. Israel has also rejected the resolution’s framing of its responsibilities.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini welcomed the vote, calling it a strong endorsement of the agency’s neutrality and humanitarian mandate. Palestinian National Council Speaker Rouhi Fattouh said the wide margin reflected global concern over worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza and what he described as escalating violations linked to the occupation.
Since the October ceasefire, humanitarian aid entering Gaza has remained limited. The United Nations and aid agencies continue to stress that immediate and unrestricted access is critical to meeting basic civilian needs and preventing further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
The ICJ advisory opinion reaffirmed that Israel, as the occupying power, is legally bound to ensure humanitarian access and protect UN facilities. The General Assembly’s resolution strengthens international pressure to uphold these obligations and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
