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 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,

Israeli attacks have killed at least 42 people across Gaza since dawn, medical sources told Al Jazeera, as the United Nations General Assembly prepares for a vote urging an unconditional ceasefire in the besieged enclave.