The UN Security Council is waiting for the position of the United States to try again on Thursday to speak with one voice through a vote that was postponed several times on a draft resolution aimed at increasing aid to the Gaza Strip.
The Council, which has faced widespread criticism for its failure to act since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, has been witnessing arduous negotiations over this text sponsored by the United Arab Emirates for days.
The Council’s vote, which was scheduled for Monday, was postponed several times, most recently on Wednesday, at the request of the Americans, who used their veto on December 8 against a previous text calling for a “humanitarian ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip, which is being bombed by Israeli forces in response to the unprecedented attack by Hamas. On the seventh of October. The text specifically calls on the parties to the conflict to facilitate the entry and distribution of aid throughout the Strip “by land, sea and air,” and asks the UN Secretary-General to establish a follow-up mechanism to ascertain the “humanitarian” nature of the conflict.
The draft resolution, which, like previous texts, does not mention the name of Hamas, condemns “all indiscriminate attacks against civilians” and “all terrorist acts” and calls for the release of the hostages.
The UAE Ambassador to the United Nations, Lana Zaki, said on Wednesday that countries are “working at the highest level of diplomacy to reach a text that will have an impact on the ground,” noting that “diplomacy takes time.” She added, “If this fails, we will continue trying. There is great suffering on the ground “The Council can continue to fail on this matter.”
Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, the Council has been able to break its silence only once, when in its resolution on November 15, it called for “humanitarian truces.”
Five other texts were rejected within two months, two of them due to an American veto, the last of which was on December 8th. Despite unprecedented pressure from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the United States prevented the call for a “humanitarian ceasefire.” This possibility was ruled out again by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, “until the elimination” of Hamas.
As the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, most Council members appear keen to avoid a new veto. Diplomatic sources reported that, for example, the reference to an “urgent and permanent cessation of hostilities” was deleted at the request of the Americans.
“But if the Israelis continue to oppose the resolution, it is still possible that Biden will decide to block its adoption.”
The latest draft of the text seen by AFP calls, less directly, for “an urgent suspension of hostilities to allow safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, and for urgent measures towards a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
“If the United States abstains from voting, the Council members will be able to breathe a sigh of relief and have a Christmas break,” Guan said. “If the Americans use their veto power, everyone will head into the new year without knowing what more they can do at the United Nations to confront the war.” So far, the Americans have not revealed their position on the outcome of these negotiations.
