STORY: UN General Assembly adopts resolution demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 12, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 13, 2023
LENGTH: 00:04:34
LOCATION: UN Headquarters
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of UNGA Hall
2. various of delegates voting
3. various of voting result on screen
4. various of President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis announcing voting result
5. various of delegates applauding
6. wide shot of Francis walking up to rostrum
7. SOUNDBITE (English): DENNIS FRANCIS, President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly
8. various of Francis speaking
9. various of delegates

STORYLINE:

The UN General Assembly on Tuesday afternoon adopted a resolution demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza.

Member states voted down two amendments making specific reference to "extremist group Hamas," with 153 supporting the draft resolution, 10 against and 23 countries abstaining.

The resolution demands an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire," the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and "ensuring humanitarian access."

The adopted resolution underscores protecting civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations, expresses grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population, and emphasizes that the Palestinian and Israeli civilian populations must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law.

It reiterates the demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, "notably with regard to the protection of civilians."

The resolution also 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.

Tuesday's session is a continuation of the tenth Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly that last met on Oct. 26 amid the present crisis in Gaza, during which it adopted a resolution on the crisis, calling for an "immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities."

The UN General Assembly has 193 member states. A two-thirds majority is required for adoption of a resolution.

In his statement delivered at the special session, General Assembly President Dennis Francis underscored the urgency to bring to an end the suffering of innocent civilians.

SOUNDBITE (English): DENNIS FRANCIS, President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly
"The fact of the matter is quite simple: the violence must stop. It must. I, therefore, once again, add my voice to the demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. We have one singular priority - only one - to save lives. Stop this violence now. Clearly, what we are witnessing is the 'unprecedented collapse' of an already-crumbling humanitarian system 'in real time.' It is incumbent upon us - as the United Nations - to bring an immediate end to the suffering of innocent civilians, the mounting death toll of those who are not - I repeat, are not - combatants in this war, and to this untenable humanitarian catastrophe."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from UN Headquarters.
(XHTV)