Pakistan, June 12 -- The United Nations General Assembly is preparing to vote on Thursday for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. This comes after the United States vetoed a similar resolution in the Security Council last week. Most UN member states are expected to support the new resolution despite Israel's strong objections.

Although General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, they reflect the global stance on key issues. Israel has called the vote a "political charade" and urged countries to reject it. But diplomats say support remains strong. The draft calls for an end to the war, release of hostages, and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

The United States warned countries not to back the resolution, saying it could affect relations with Washington. A leaked U.S. note said opposing Israel at the UN could bring diplomatic consequences. Yet, global pressure for peace in Gaza continues to grow, especially with famine fears rising.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, rejected the draft resolution. He called it harmful and said it spreads lies. He claimed the resolution would hurt hostage negotiations and fails to blame Hamas. But human rights groups argue that the humanitarian situation in Gaza demands urgent action.

So far, over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities. Thousands more are missing under rubble. Past General Assembly votes for ceasefire have gained growing support. Now, the world watches to see if this new vote will push leaders closer to ending the war.