The United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York, with debate and a possible vote looming over a Spanish-led emergency special session addressing the Gaza crisis. While resolutions passed by the General Assembly carry the weight of global opinion, they remain non-binding recommendations for Member States. In contrast, only Security Council resolutions possess potential legal force.

Last week underscored the paralysis within the Security Council, as the United States exercised its veto for the fifth time to block a resolution demanding an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza. Washington’s repeated vetoes reveal its unwavering commitment to shielding Israel from binding international pressure, leaving the UN’s ability to act decisively in doubt.

Agencies.