The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has given the green light to a moderated proposal aimed at enhancing humanitarian assistance to the beleaguered Gaza Strip.
The decision, made on Friday, also urged for immediate measures "to create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities." This comes after a week of delayed votes and intense negotiations to circumvent a potential veto from the United States.
The world has been watching in horror as the death toll in Gaza escalates due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has lasted 11 weeks. The worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave has also drawn international concern. The United States chose to abstain, enabling the 15-member council to pass a resolution drafted by the United Arab Emirates. All other council members voted in favor of the resolution, with the exception of Russia, which also abstained.
The resolution, which was the product of high-level negotiations to secure Washington's approval, does not undermine Israel's control over all aid deliveries to the 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza. Israel supervises the restricted aid deliveries to Gaza via the Rafah crossing from Egypt and the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing.
However, the softened language regarding a cessation of hostilities has disappointed several council members, including Russia, which holds veto power. Arab and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation states also expressed dissatisfaction, with some diplomats interpreting it as a green light for Israel to take further action against Hamas in response to a deadly attack on October 7.
The approved resolution "calls for urgent steps to immediately allow safe, unhindered, and expanded humanitarian access and to create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities." The original draft had demanded "an urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities" to facilitate aid access.
Earlier this month, the 193-member UN General Assembly called for a humanitarian ceasefire, with 153 states voting in favor. This move had previously been vetoed by the United States in the Security Council.
The U.S. and Israel are against a ceasefire, arguing that it would only benefit Hamas. Instead, Washington supports temporary halts in the fighting to safeguard civilians and free hostages taken by Hamas.
In the past month, the United States abstained, allowing the Security Council to demand urgent and extended humanitarian pauses in the fighting for a "sufficient number of days" to permit aid access. This decision followed four unsuccessful attempts to take action.
Washington has traditionally protected its ally, Israel, from UN action and has already vetoed Security Council action twice since an attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7, in which Israel claims 1,200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage.
Israel has responded to Hamas by launching air strikes on Gaza, imposing a blockade, and initiating a ground offensive. According to health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza, approximately 20,000 Palestinians have been killed.
The majority of Gaza's population has been displaced, and UN officials have warned of an impending humanitarian disaster.
The World Food Programme reports that half of Gaza's population is facing starvation, with only 10% of the required food supplies entering Gaza since October 7.
A significant point of contention during the resolution negotiations was an initial proposal for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to establish a mechanism in Gaza to monitor aid from countries not involved in the conflict. A compromise was reached, asking Guterres to appoint a senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator to establish a UN mechanism to expedite aid to Gaza from states not involved in the conflict.
The council also urged the warring parties "to adhere to international humanitarian law and ... deplores all attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as all violence and hostilities against civilians, and all acts of terrorism."
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