Australia has joined more than 150 other countries in backing a vote at the United Nations General Assembly to demand an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The vote, backed by 158 nations on Thursday (AEDT), also seeks the immediate release of all hostages.

The ceasefire demand is an escalation by the 193-member General Assembly. In October last year, it called for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza, increasing that to a demand two months later.

The humanitarian crisis was a key factor in Australia’s vote, with more than 44,000 people killed in Gaza, including more than 13,000 children.

Nearly all of the strip’s 2.1 million people have lost their homes and don’t have enough food, water or medical supplies.

Australia’s ambassador to the UN James Larsen said the demand for full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza was urgent as he branded the human human suffering unbearable.

“Israel must take urgent action to alleviate this humanitarian crisis,” he said.

But the resolution’s shortcomings included not demanding a conditional ceasefire and failing to unequivocally condemn Hamas, Mr Larsen said as he called for the designated terrorist group to lay down arms.

“There can be no role for terrorists in the future governance of Gaza,” he said.

General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry political weight, reflecting a global view on the war.

Australia’s position in favour of the resolution pits it against the US, Israel and seven other countries that voted against the ceasefire resolution. Thirteen countries abstained.

🚨 We and our partners are calling for $4.07 billion to help 3 million people in #Gaza and the #WestBank next year.

⭕ People desperately need humanitarian aid.
⭕ All impediments to aid must be lifted.
⭕ Our work must be facilitated.

Hear more from humanitarians in Gaza.

— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) December 11, 2024

The world body also threw its support behind the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, adopting a second resolution with 159 votes – again, including Australia – in favour to deplore a new law that will ban UNRWA’s operations in Israel from late January.

It demanded that Israel respect UNRWA’s mandate and “enable its operations to proceed without impediment or restriction.”

The US, Israel and seven other countries voted no, while 11 countries abstained.

The motion called for the Israeli Knesset to reverse laws banning the agency from operating in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which include Gaza and the West Bank.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has repeatedly stated the agency is the only one with the capability to distribute aid and assistance at the scale needed in Gaza.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN said UNRWA had been infiltrated by Hamas – something it denies – and accused the general assembly of ignoring the hostages taken by the terrorist organisation on October 7.

Larsen expressed grave concern over Israel’s laws, saying while the resolution wasn’t perfect, “limiting UNRWA’s operations will only exacerbate an already terrible humanitarian crisis”.

Ahead of the twin votes, Labor minister Anne Aly said there had been a shift in Australia’s views, as well as “in the contexts in which the Israeli government is operating”

“I think the shift has been necessitated by the fact that the Israeli government has been found guilty by the International Court of Justice, by the declarations that have been made by the ICC as well, and Australia – as a good global citizen, as a signatory to the ICJ and to the ICC – must uphold the laws, the international laws and the international rules of warfare, that we are signatories to,” she told ABC News Breakfast.

“If the Israeli government flouts those laws, then we have a responsibility to act accordingly.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson chastised the votes, saying the federal government’s lack of support for Israel translated into antisemitism in Australia as people linked the Jewish community to Israel.

“They don’t draw any distinction between Israel and Jews, so when the Australian government abandons or even worse, vilifies Israel, antisemites take encouragement from that,” he told Sky News.

It follows anti-semitism crimes such as the fire-bombing of a Melbourne synagogue – being investigated as a likely terrorist attack – and two incidents in Sydney of anti-Israel graffiti and car fires.

-with AAP