UN finally approves toned-down resolution calling for more humanitarian aid to pass into Gaza
The United Nations Security Council today approved a watered-down bid to increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and called for urgent steps “to create the conditions for a lasting cessation of hostilities,” after a week of election postponements and intensive negotiations to avoid a veto. by the United States.
Amid global outrage over the rising death toll in Gaza in the 11-week war between Israel and Hamas and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, the US abstained from voting to allow the 15-member council to pass a resolution which was drawn up by the United Arab Emirates.
The remaining council members voted in favor of the resolution, except Russia, which also abstained.
After high-level negotiations to win over Washington, the resolution no longer dilutes Israel's control over all aid deliveries to 2.3 million people in Gaza. Israel oversees limited aid deliveries to Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt and the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing.
But a weakening of the language on cessation of hostilities frustrated several council members — including veto Russia — and Arab and Organization of Islamic Cooperation states, some of which, diplomats said, see it as approval for Israel to take further action against Hamas for a deadly attack. October 7 attack.
Ambassadors vote during a meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue, at UN Headquarters in New York on December 22, 2023
Palestinians living in the Bureij refugee camp leave their homes with their belongings to head towards the city of Deir al-Balah after the Israeli forces asked them to leave the camp in Bureij, Gaza, on December 22, 2023.
Palestinians living in the Bureij refugee camp leave their homes with their belongings to head towards the city of Deir al-Balah after the Israeli forces asked them to leave the camp in Bureij, Gaza, on December 22, 2023.
The adopted resolution “calls for urgent steps to immediately enable safe, unhindered and expanded humanitarian access and create the conditions for a lasting cessation of hostilities.” The original draft called for “an urgent and lasting cessation of hostilities” to allow access to aid.
“By signing this, the council would essentially give the Israeli forces full freedom of movement for further evacuation of the Gaza Strip,” Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council before the vote.
Russia proposed amending the draft to return to the original text that called for “an urgent and lasting cessation of hostilities.” The amendment was vetoed by the United States. It received ten votes in favor, while four members abstained.
Earlier this month, the 193-member UN General Assembly demanded a humanitarian ceasefire, with 153 states voting in favor of the decision vetoed by the United States in the Security Council days earlier.
The US and Israel oppose a ceasefire, believing it would only benefit Hamas. Washington instead supports pauses in the fighting to protect civilians and free hostages captured by Hamas.
The United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the United Nations, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, speaks on voting day at the United Nations Security Council, at UN Headquarters in New York, USA, December 22, 2023
Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia speaks during the Security Council meeting at United Nations Headquarters, Friday, December 22, 2023
Last month, the United States abstained to allow the Security Council to call for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses in the fighting of “sufficient days” to allow access to aid. The move came after four failed attempts to take action.
Washington traditionally protects its ally Israel from UN action and has already vetoed Security Council action twice since an attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7, which Israel says killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostage.
Israel has retaliated against Hamas by bombing Gaza from the air, imposing a siege and launching a ground offensive. About 20,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health officials in Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Most people in Gaza have been driven from their homes and UN officials have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe. According to the World Food Program, half of Gaza's population is hungry and only 10% of needed food has entered Gaza since October 7.
A major sticking point during negotiations on the resolution adopted on Friday was an initial proposal to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to set up a mechanism in Gaza to monitor aid from countries not party to the war.
A watered-down compromise was reached to instead ask Guterres to appoint a senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator to establish a UN mechanism for accelerating aid to Gaza through states not party to the conflict.
The coordinator would also have responsibility “for facilitating, coordinating, monitoring and verifying in Gaza, where necessary, the humanitarian character” of all aid.
The council also called on the warring parties “to adhere to international humanitarian law and … deplores all attacks on civilians and civilian objects, as well as all violence and hostilities against civilians, and all acts of terrorism.”