Here is Where Every Country Now Stands on a Ceasefire in Gaza

Results of a UN General Assembly Vote, explained

Moments ago, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. This vote at the General Assembly comes after the United States cast a lone veto at the Security Council last week, blocking a ceasefire resolution put forward by the United Arab Emirates.

Unlike the Security Council, no country holds a veto at the General Assembly which includes the entire membership the United Nations — 193 countries in all. Also unlike the Security Council, resolutions adopted by the General Assembly are non-binding and do not carry the force of international law. Still, votes like this are useful barometers of international attitudes and accordingly carry some political weight.

The resolution in question was drafted by Egypt and included about 100 co-sponsors. It was a short and straightforward resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Prior to the vote, the United States and Austria sought to include amendments to the res…