During a session of the United Nations General Assembly, Gilad Erdan, the Israeli envoy to the UN, made a statement opposing the UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Erdan asserted that a lasting ceasefire could only be achieved if the Palestinian group Hamas surrendered its weapons. He specifically mentioned Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, stating that catching him is a key objective of Israel's Gaza assault.
Ambassador Erdan went on to display a sign containing Yahya Sinwar's office phone number, urging General Assembly members to call him if they genuinely care about achieving a ceasefire. Erdan emphasized that a real and enduring ceasefire would only be possible when Hamas lays down its weapons, turns itself in, and returns all hostages.
In the General Assembly vote, 153 countries supported the resolution, while 10 voted against it, and 23 abstained. The countries opposing the resolution include the United States, Israel, Austria, Czechia, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay.
