B’nai B’rith President Robert Spitzer and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International condemns the passage at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) of yet another counter-productive resolution urging a ceasefire in Israel’s campaign against Hamas terrorists. The United States appropriately chose to veto a similar text at the U.N. Security Council last week, leading other countries to move the issue to the General Assembly, under the “Uniting for Peace” rubric, which is rarely used—except when Israel is the subject.

The meeting was called during a UNGA “emergency session,” a never-ending series that can be opened, closed and re-opened at will and has been used primarily to attack Israel over the course of many years.

We repudiate governments that voted in favor of a resolution calling for ending Israel’s legal and necessitated blockade of Gaza, without which Iran and other malign elements would surge even more deadly weaponry to violent Palestinian jihadists, escalating the conflict further. The language in the resolution calling for U.N. member states to take “all measures necessary” against Israel could be seen by some as a call for discriminatory anti-Israel boycotts, divestment and sanctions—and even as justification for attempts at weaponizing judicial forums globally through so-called “universal jurisdiction.”

We thank every country that courageously stood with Israel and the United States in voting against a resolution that will do nothing to bring an end to the conflict closer. A resolution calling for Hamas and other fanatic groups to disarm and give up rule in Gaza could have helped to improve the situation long-term. Instead, the General Assembly resolution is likely to be cheered by Hamas, which will simply ignore the motion’s passing call for the release of over 50 Israeli and other hostages more than 600 unimaginable days after their abduction, and which will see the vote outcome as confirmation that the world accepts their brutality.

Today’s proceedings have only delayed a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict.