After heated negotiations, the UN Security Council on Friday called for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza on a “large scale” without calling for a ceasefire, which the Americans did not want despite international pressure on their Israeli ally.
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The resolution, adopted with 13 votes in favour, no votes against and two abstentions (US and Russia), “commits all parties to authorize and facilitate the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of large-scale humanitarian assistance” in Gaza and calls for “urgent Assumption”. To take measures in this regard and “to create the conditions for a permanent cessation of hostilities”.
The text also calls for the use of “all available access and transport routes” for the delivery of fuel, food and medical equipment throughout the territory.
Council decisions are binding, which does not prevent certain affected states from not respecting them.
“We know it is not a perfect text, we know that only a ceasefire will end the suffering,” Emirati Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh commented on the origin of the text. But he “is responding with action to the desperate humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people.”
“Real problem”
Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour welcomed “a step in the right direction” and insisted that the resolution would be “implemented and accompanied by massive pressure for an immediate ceasefire.”
“A humanitarian ceasefire is the only way (…) to end the nightmare” of the residents of Gaza, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who had “hoped for more” from the Council.
He attacked Israel directly and believed that the “real problem” for the delivery of aid to Gaza was the Israeli “offensive.”
The resolution, the result of long discussions under the threat of a new American veto, has largely evolved since the more ambitious version proposed by the Emirates on Sunday.
A Russian amendment that sought to echo an earlier version's call for an “urgent cessation of hostilities” was blocked by the United States with 10 votes in favor and four abstentions.
“This is a tragic moment for the Council,” Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia condemned the American “blackmail.”
Council members wanted to avoid another veto at a time when Gazans, who were shelled by Israeli forces in retaliation for the bloody and unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, now face starvation.
The Security Council has been widely criticized for its inaction since the start of the war.
“A spark of hope”
It is only the second time that he has managed to agree on a text. The previous resolution, dated November 15, called for “humanitarian pauses.” Five more texts were rejected within two months, including two due to American vetoes, the last on December 8th.
The United States then blocked the call for a “humanitarian ceasefire,” which Israel also deemed unacceptable, despite unprecedented pressure from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“Today, this Council brings a glimmer of hope in an ocean of unimaginable suffering,” asserted American Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, while her Israeli counterpart Gilad Erdan thanked the United States for “standing with” Israel during these negotiations by “the defined” maintained red lines”.
Particularly intensive negotiations took place over the parameters of a new monitoring mechanism to ensure the “humanitarian” nature of the aid, which would ultimately be carried out under the auspices of a UN “coordinator” but in “consultation” with the parties.
Israel will “consider any humanitarian aid to Gaza for security reasons,” Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen emphasized on Friday.
Another thorny point is the renewed absence from the text of any condemnation – or even name – of Hamas, which has once again been castigated by Israel and the United States.
The text deplores “all acts of terrorism” and “all attacks on civilians” and calls for the “unconditional” release of all hostages.
After the Oct. 7 attack, which killed around 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on the Israeli toll, Israel vowed to “destroy” Hamas by shelling and besieging Palestinian territory conducted an extensive land operation since October 27th.
Hamas' health ministry reported on Friday 20,057 deaths since the Israeli bombing began, mostly women, children and young people, as well as more than 50,000 injured.