Palau voted with the United States and Israel in opposing a resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
Palau is one of the 12 countries that voted against the resolution, which was backed by 149 member states, according to the United Nations website as of June 12.
The other Pacific nations voting against the resolution that also calls for the end of starvation as a weapon of war were Nauru, FSM, Fiji, Papua New Guinea,Tonga, and Tuvalu.
19 member states abstained, including the Marshall Islands and Kiribati.
Pacific nations voting in favor of the resolution were the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
In the special session, General Assembly President Philémon Yang said that “the horrors in Gaza must end” after 20 months of war.
Yang also criticized the Security Council, which had failed to pass a similar resolution.
He called the situation on the ground “unacceptable”, highlighting the deprivation of food, water, and medicine for civilians, the continued captivity of hostages, and the need for urgent international action.
The resolution, although not legally binding, also calls on Member States to take necessary steps to ensure Israel complies with its international legal obligations.
Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea told the assembly before the vote that the resolution “sends an unacceptable message to Hamas and other Iran-backed terrorist proxies, and that message is, you will be rewarded for taking hostages, diverting aid, and launching attacks from civilian areas.”
The resolution did not condemn Hamas’ attack on Israel but highlighted that the delivery of aid should not be hindered and called for respect for those delivering the aid.
The resolution also “urges the full and immediate implementation of Security Council resolution 2735 (2024), including the ceasefire, hostage and prisoner exchanges, return of displaced persons, and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. (By: Bernadette Carreon)