After a long struggle, the UN Security Council passed a Middle East resolution. The USA did not veto the shortened text. At its core, it is about humanitarian aid for Gaza. Israel was dissatisfied.
After days of delay, the UN Security Council has agreed on a resolution on the war in the Middle East. It calls for an increase in humanitarian aid for the approximately two million people in need in the Gaza Strip. Overall, the resolution deviates significantly from the original draft, which the USA had threatened to veto. Now the USA abstained. In total, 13 of the 15 countries voted for the text; in addition to the USA, Russia also abstained.
The decision, which is binding under international law, calls on Israel to “immediately enable safe and unhindered humanitarian access” to the Gaza Strip. The conditions must also be created for a sustainable cessation of violence.
On the controversial issue of how relief supplies should be monitored, the Council members agreed to appoint a responsible UN coordinator. This should also ensure that deliveries are accelerated in collaboration with all stakeholders. The Council further demands that humanitarian goods flow into the Gaza Strip through all available border crossings.
Resolution text was defused
For a long time it looked as if Washington would use its veto to protect the interests of its ally Israel. Some passages were deleted due to pressure from the USA: A paragraph that condemns “all violations of international humanitarian law, including all arbitrary attacks on civilians and civilian objects” is no longer found in the resolution. The previously requested immediate suspension of violence to enable aid deliveries is also missing.
The United States also vetoed an amendment from Russia that would have reintroduced the call for a cessation of fighting into the text. That’s probably why Russia abstained from the vote.
Israel remembers Hamas hostages
Israel’s UN ambassador criticized the resolution. “The fact that the UN is only focusing on relief efforts for the Gaza Strip is unnecessary and disconnected from reality,” said Gilad Erdan. Israel is already allowing the necessary aid deliveries. “The UN should have focused on the humanitarian crisis of the hostages.”
Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen wrote on the online service X: “Israel will continue the war in Gaza until all hostages are released and Hamas is eliminated in the Gaza Strip.” From Israel’s perspective, there should be no change in the control of deliveries. “Israel will continue to inspect all humanitarian assistance to Gaza for security reasons,” Cohen wrote.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also expressed skepticism – although with a different point of view. “Much more is needed immediately,” Guterres said, referring to the lack of calls for an end to the violence. “A humanitarian ceasefire is the only way to meet the urgent needs of the people of Gaza and put an end to their ongoing nightmares,” the Portuguese continued. Humanitarian aid can only be provided effectively if there is no fighting.
Hunger, deprivation and destruction in Gaza
The humanitarian situation of the people in the Gaza Strip is dramatic. According to United Nations estimates, the war between Israel and Hamas has made around 1.9 of the 2.4 million people in the Gaza Strip internally displaced. Many houses have been destroyed and there is a lack of food, water, fuel and medical supplies.
The Israeli army bombed targets from the air and launched a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, which cannot be independently verified, at least 20,000 people have been killed so far.
Charlotte Voß, ARD New York, tagesschau, December 23, 2023 5:58 a.m
