UN member states voted overwhelmingly Thursday for an immediate Gaza ceasefire, Hamas' hostage release, and urgent aid access for 2 million Palestinians. The 193-nation General Assembly passed the

The U.S. last week vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that also demanded an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" and unhindered aid access in Gaza, arguing it would undermine U.S.-led efforts to broker a ceasefire.

The vote in the 193-member General Assembly was 149-12 with 19 abstentions. The resolution, drafted by Spain, 'strongly condemns any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.' Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon denied that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war,

The resolution, drafted by Spain and obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, “strongly condemns any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.”

UN member states have voted, despite opposition from the US and Israel, to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid.

The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza and aid access, after the United States vetoed a similar effort in the Security Council last week.

The UN General Assembly will vote Thursday on demanding an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza a week after the United States used its veto to stop a similar push in the