United Nations Security Council

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on the 22nd, calling for the immediate acceleration of the delivery of aid supplies to Gaza to rescue hungry and desperate civilians, but did not include the original demand for “urgent suspension of hostilities.” The Security Council was originally scheduled to vote on this resolution on the 18th of this month, but it was postponed several times and the vote was not completed until the 22nd.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on the 22nd, calling for the immediate acceleration of the delivery of aid supplies to Gaza to rescue hungry and desperate civilians, but did not include the original demand for “urgent suspension of hostilities.” (Associated Press)

The Associated Press reported that the 15-member Security Council passed the resolution with 13 votes in favor and 0 against, with the United States and Russia abstaining. Russia had hoped for tougher wording in the resolution, but the United States did not. This abstention by the United States prevented it from becoming the third veto on Gaza-related resolutions since the Palestinian organization Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7 this year.

Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations who sponsored the resolution, said that this is still the Christmas miracle that everyone has been waiting for. This resolution sends a signal to the people of Gaza that the Security Council is working hard to alleviate their suffering. .

Before the vote, the United States voted against an amendment proposed by Russia to revive the call for an immediate halt to the war. Except for the veto of the United States, 10 countries supported the amendment and 4 countries abstained.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, said the resolution passed today was “totally useless,” accusing the United States of “shameful, self-interested, irresponsible behavior” and resorting to “brutal pressure, blackmail, and forcing others into trouble.” Nebanzia said that the resolution “essentially gives the Israeli army complete freedom of action to clean up the Gaza Strip” and said that if many Arab countries did not pay for the resolution, they would definitely veto it.

The resolution adopted today removes a powerful key provision calling for “an urgent cessation of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance (to Gaza) and urgent measures towards a lasting end to hostilities”; instead it calls for “a Emergency measures to immediately allow safe, unhindered and expanded humanitarian access (to Gaza) to create conditions for a lasting end to hostilities.”

The resolution did not specify what measures would be taken; but diplomats said it was the first time the Security Council had mentioned an end to the war.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said that it took 75 days for the Security Council to “finally say the word to stop the war.” He also emphasized that both Palestine and Arab countries supported the original amendment proposed by Russia.

Security Council resolutions are more important because they are legally binding, but in practice many participants still ignore the Security Council’s requirements. Resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly are not legally binding and serve as an important reference for global public opinion.

Relevant geographical location maps of Israel, Palestine, Gaza corridor and surrounding countries. (Getty Creative)

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2023-12-23 05:00:13