How countries voted on a Gaza ceasefire at the UN in December 2023

Why did most countries vote yes?

Palestine's ambassador Riyad Mansour called it "a historic day in terms of the powerful message that was sent." In the Assembly on December 15, he recalled the Al Jazeera journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh, who had said "It does not matter" after losing his family. Mansour answered: "It does matter... Enough is enough." He added: "The General Assembly spoke, the world spoke, 153 countries spoke. Shame on those who refuse to stand against atrocities."

Canada's ambassador Bob Rae said "The ongoing humanitarian crisis weighed heavily in Canada's decision." The prime ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand said "The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians" and that a "sustainable ceasefire" "cannot be one-sided." Canada and Australia switched from abstaining to yes. Japan and India also switched to yes. All four also voted for the two amendments that would have named Hamas, both of which failed.

Why did the United States and Israel vote no?

The United States ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the United States agreed with the text on the humanitarian situation, civilian protection and hostage releases. But she said the United States "cannot support a one-sided Security Council or General Assembly resolution that ignores so much of what we all stand for." She added: "So long as Hamas remains driven by its murderous ideology, any ceasefire right now would be temporary at best and dangerous at worst."

Israel's ambassador Gilad Erdan said the draft "does not even mention Hamas at all" and that "A ceasefire means one thing and one thing only: ensuring the survival of Hamas."

Austria's amendment would have said the hostages were "held by Hamas and other groups." It failed with 61 votes for, 89 against and 20 abstentions. The United States amendment would have added that the Assembly "unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages." It failed with 62 for, 84 against and 25 abstentions.

Why did the UK, Germany and Italy abstain?

Germany's ambassador Antje Leendertse said "we cannot endorse a text that does not condemn the heinous acts of terror." Italy's ambassador Maurizio Massari cited the missing "unequivocal condemnation" of Hamas's attacks. The United Kingdom gave no explanation of vote. Three days later, the United Kingdom's ambassador James Kariuki said the United Kingdom supported calls for a "sustainable ceasefire, whereby hostages are released, more aid can get in and Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel."

Argentina, which had voted yes in October under the previous government, abstained. Its ambassador said Argentina could not support a text without "an express repudiation" of Hamas's attacks.

What happened next?

On March 25, 2024, Security Council resolution 2728 became the Council's first ceasefire demand of this war. A ceasefire took effect in January 2025 but collapsed in March 2025. A ceasefire under US President Donald Trump's plan took effect on October 10, 2025. All living hostages were freed on October 13, 2025. The remains of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, were returned in January 2026.

The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 74,370 people have been killed since October 2023, including 1,481 since the ceasefire.