The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution Friday calling for a "humanitarian truce" to deliver essential supplies to the Gaza Strip, devastated by Israeli strikes against the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
A total of 121 of the 193 members backed the nonbinding resolution, with the United States, Israel and 12 others opposing it, and 44 countries including Japan abstaining.
The Israeli military signaled the same day that it was closer to launching full-scale ground operations in Gaza to crush Hamas.
The resolution condemned "all acts of violence aimed at Palestinian and Israel civilians, including all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks" and expressed "grave concern" about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
It mentioned those taken hostage by Hamas after its attacks on Oct. 7 but did not name the group, simply calling for "the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians who are being illegally held captive."
"Two key words are missing in the resolution before us," Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the world body, said in her speech at the assembly. "The first is Hamas" and the other is "hostage," she said.
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