UN Security Council approves diluted resolution on Gaza
United Nations Security Council Adopts Revised Resolution to Speed Up Aid Deliveries to Gaza
After numerous delays, the United Nations Security Council finally passed a resolution on Friday, albeit a watered-down version. The resolution calls for immediate action to expedite aid deliveries to the desperate civilians in Gaza. However, the original demand for an “urgent suspension of hostilities” between Israel and Hamas was removed.
The vote in the 15-member council resulted in a 13-0 majority, with both the United States and Russia abstaining. Prior to this, the United States vetoed a Russian amendment that aimed to reinstate the call for a suspension of hostilities. The vote on the amendment saw 10 members in favor, the U.S. against, and four abstentions.
The revised text of the resolution was the result of intensive negotiations between the U.S., the United Arab Emirates, and other Arab nations. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield confirmed that the U.S., as Israel’s closest ally, supported the resolution. The U.S. abstention prevented a second veto from the U.S. following the surprise attacks by Hamas on October 7.
Council members held closed-door discussions on Thursday to review a revised draft of the resolution. The vote was subsequently delayed to allow members to consult with their respective capitals regarding the significant changes made to avoid a U.S. veto. A new draft with minor revisions was circulated on Friday morning.
The circulation of the new draft marked the culmination of a week and a half of high-level negotiations involving U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken engaged in multiple conversations with the foreign ministers of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Britain, France, and Germany.
Originally scheduled for Monday, the vote had been postponed each day since then.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield described the resolution as “strong” despite its watering down. She emphasized that it had the full support of the Arab group, which believed it provided the necessary measures to facilitate humanitarian assistance on the ground.
However, the resolution lost its crucial provision calling for the “urgent suspension of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and for urgent steps towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities.” Instead, it now calls for “urgent steps to immediately allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and also for creating the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.” While the specific steps are not defined, diplomats noted that this would be the council’s first mention of halting the fighting.
Regarding aid deliveries, the new draft eliminates the previous request for the U.N. to exclusively monitor all relief consignments to Gaza. Instead, it urges U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to promptly appoint a senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator responsible for facilitating, coordinating, monitoring, and verifying non-conflict party relief deliveries to Gaza. The resolution demands that Israel and Hamas cooperate with the coordinator to expedite aid deliveries.
The U.S. negotiated the new draft with the United Arab Emirates, the Arab representative on the council sponsoring the resolution, as well as with Egypt and other key stakeholders. This approach bypassed the concerns of the other 13 council members, some of whom expressed dissatisfaction with being excluded from the negotiations.
Secretary-General Guterres has warned of a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and cautioned that a collapse of the support system would lead to a breakdown of public order and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt.
According to a report from 23 U.N. and humanitarian agencies, the entire population of Gaza, consisting of 2.2 million people, is facing a food crisis or worse. Approximately 576,600 individuals are at the “catastrophic” starvation level. With limited supplies reaching Gaza, the U.N. World Food Program estimates that 90% of the population regularly goes without food for a full day.
Since the start of the war, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that nearly 20,000 Palestinians have been killed. During the October 7 attack, Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took approximately 240 hostages back to Gaza.
Hamas currently controls the Gaza Strip, and the Health Ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. The U.N. estimates that thousands more Palestinians remain buried under the rubble in Gaza.
While Security Council resolutions are legally binding, many parties choose to disregard the council’s requests for action. General Assembly resolutions, although not legally binding, serve as a significant indicator of global opinion.
[Click here to read more from The Washington Examiner](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/)What is the role and responsibilities of the senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator appointed to oversee humanitarian assistance efforts in Gaza?
Rdinator to lead the coordination and oversight of humanitarian assistance efforts in Gaza.
The revision also removed language that reaffirmed the need to ”respect international humanitarian law” and “protect civilians, especially children, women, and the elderly.” However, it does include a reference to respecting “the principle of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence of humanitarian assistance.”
The resolution further acknowledges the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the shortage of essential supplies, the limited access to healthcare and clean water, and the widespread destruction of infrastructure. It calls upon all parties involved to ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and to take immediate measures to alleviate the suffering of civilians.
While the revised resolution falls short of the original demands, diplomats argue that it represents a significant step forward in addressing the urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza. The removal of the “urgent suspension of hostilities” provision can be seen as a compromise to secure the support of the United States, Israel’s staunch ally in the council.
However, critics argue that without a clear and immediate call for a cessation of hostilities, the resolution may not effectively address the root causes of the conflict and prevent further civilian casualties.
In response to the resolution, Israel expressed reservations but acknowledged the need to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza. A statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry emphasized the country’s commitment to providing humanitarian aid and called on the international community to address the issue of Hamas’s continued aggression.
Hamas, on the other hand, rejected the resolution, labeling it as “insufficient” and failing to hold Israel accountable for its actions. The militant group criticized the removal of the demand for a suspension of hostilities, arguing that it allows Israel to continue its aggression without consequences.
It remains to be seen how the revised resolution will be implemented and whether it will effectively expedite aid deliveries to the desperate civilians in Gaza. The appointment of a senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator will be crucial in coordinating efforts and ensuring the efficient allocation of resources.
The resolution highlights the urgent need for international cooperation and diplomatic efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While it may not fully satisfy all parties involved, it represents a small step towards providing much-needed relief to the suffering population. The international community must continue to work towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities and a comprehensive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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