UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council is facing challenges in presenting a unified stance on the ceasefire resolution in Gaza, with diplomatic sources indicating a difficulty in finding common ground among its members, AFP reported.
The UN Security Council has swapped a call for a “lasting cessation of hostilities” with a draft resolution demanding the fighting’s “suspension.” A vote on the resolution, initially scheduled for today, may face further delays, AFP reported citing diplomatic sources.
Israel, supported by its ally Washington, a veto-wielding permanent Security Council member, has opposed the term “ceasefire.” The disagreement over terminology has added complexity to the negotiations, with some diplomats advocating for terms like “pause,” “truce,” or qualifying any ceasefire as “humanitarian.”
This current struggle follows an impasse earlier this month when the United States blocked the adoption of a Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip. Despite unprecedented pressure from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the resolution was thwarted.
UN Security Council Draft Resolution Seeks Urgent Cessation of Hostilities
Last week, the UN General Assembly passed the same nonbinding resolution by an overwhelming majority, prompting Arab countries to make a new attempt at the Security Council. The current draft resolution, prepared by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), seeks “an urgent and lasting cessation of hostilities to allow unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.”
The draft resolution “condemns all violations of international humanitarian law, including all indiscriminate attacks against civilians.” It also calls for the immediate release of hostages and urges the parties to facilitate aid entry and distribution in Gaza. Senior UN official Tor Wennesland highlighted that Israel’s steps to allow aid into Gaza have been “far short of what is needed.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed readiness for another humanitarian pause and additional aid. President Joe Biden has shown growing impatience with Israel, cautioning about the risk of losing international support due to the “indiscriminate” bombardment of Gaza.
Since the conflict began, the Security Council has faced criticism for adopting only one text in mid-November, calling for humanitarian “pauses.” Five other draft resolutions were rejected, two due to US vetoes.
The health ministry in Gaza has reported that Israel’s military attacks have killed more than 19,667 Palestinian people, mostly women and children.
