The United Nations Security Council voted on Friday to adopt a resolution backed by the United Arab Emirates calling for a humanitarian pause in the war between Israel and Hamas.
A vote on the resolution was originally scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, but was postponed to avoid another veto by the United States.
The resolution passed Friday, with 13 nations voting in favor with the United States and Russia abstaining, “calls for urgent steps to immediately enable safe, unimpeded and expanded humanitarian access and create the conditions for a sustained cessation of hostilities.”
It “demands that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, particularly with regard to the protection of civilians, calls for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days to ensure full, rapid and safe and unhindered access for “To ensure humanitarian assistance and enable urgent rescue and recovery efforts, and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and ensuring immediate access for humanitarian assistance,” the resolution continued.
The resolution also raises “serious concerns about the impact of the resumption of hostilities on the civilian population.”
Security Council resolutions are legally binding, but in practice parties may ignore the Council's will.