After a week of delays, a resolution calling for more humanitarian aid to Gaza has been passed by the UN Security Council.
The resolution passed with 13 votes in favor, 0 votes against and 2 abstentions. The U.S and Russia both abstained.
Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, UAE envoy to UN noted that the text is the product of “extensive consultations and engagement.”
“The purpose of this text is very simple,” she said.
She added that it seeks to respond to the “dire humanitarian situation on the ground for the Palestinian people bearing the brunt of this conflict, while protecting those who are trying to deliver life-saving aid.”
She stressed that all crossings must be opened to scale up aid to Gaza. Still, she added, “If deconfliction does not happen, aid simply cannot reach those who need it.”
The draft resolution, which does not call for a ceasefire, comes up short, she said, adding, “We know this is not a perfect text. We know only a ceasefire will end the suffering.”
The final text of the resolution amongst other things demands all parties “facilitate and enable the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale” directly to Palestinian civilians.
It calls for parties to “create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities”; An initial version called for a halt to the fighting, while a second discarded draft called for a “suspension” of fighting to allow in aid.
It also demands parties to “facilitate the use of all available routes to and throughout the entire Gaza Strip” for aid deliveries.
In addition, the resolution requests the UN Chief appoint an official to oversee aid disbursement, and requests that official create a UN mechanism for accelerating aid. That represents another compromise, with an initial draft calling for the UN secretary general to create a binding mechanism for speedy aid.
Moreover, it demands that enough fuel is allowed into Gaza to meet humanitarian need and the release of captives.
Russia’s UN Envoy Calls Resolution “Toothless”
Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s Envoy to the UN, stated that the U.S opposition to the initial draft resolution, which resulted in days of negotiations, has resulted in a “toothless” and “neutered” draft.
He particularly criticised watered-down language that called for the creation of “conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities”, saying it fell short of actually pausing fighting and would give Israel a “free hand” to continue its operations.
“By signing off on this, the council would essentially be giving the Israeli armed forces complete freedom of movement for further clearing of the Gaza Strip, and anyone who votes in favor of the text as it is currently worth it would bear responsibility for that essentially becoming complicit in the destruction of Gaza.”
Vassily Nebenzia
“Moreover, the text of the draft has lost a reference to condemnations of all indiscriminate attacks on civilians,” he stressed.
“What signal…this send[s] to the international community [is] that the security council is giving Israel a green light for a war crimes,” he added.
He introduced an amendment that sought to reintroduce language calling for a “suspension” of hostilities to allow more aid access.
Ten voted in favour. Four abstained. The U.S voted against, which invoked their veto power.
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