A resolution is a formal expression of opinion or will of the UN’s principal organs, such as the Security Council and the General Assembly. It is usually numbered consecutively, and issued as an individual document or included in the annual compilation of resolutions adopted at each session. Resolutions are distinct from decisions, which typically concern procedural matters and are recorded in the report of the body to its parent organ.
Since the founding of the United Nations in 1945, the most powerful instrument for promoting international peace and security is its veto power — a right reserved solely for the five permanent members of the Security Council (the “P5”). It has been used over 300 times in 70 years, mainly by the U.S. and Russia, sometimes joined by China and France. The P5 have often used their veto power to block Security Council action that they view as unfavorable to their own strategic interests rather than on the basis of broader international consensus.
This resolution seeks an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and condemns Hamas for the deadly October 7 attacks on Israel. It draws false equivalence between the two parties and undermines diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement that reflects the reality on the ground. It also creates new legal obligations that do not follow from or add to existing obligations under international law. It is therefore unacceptable.
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