by Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday approved a resolution calling for urgent and prolonged pauses in fighting in the Gaza Strip for “a sufficient number of days” to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid in the enclave besieged by the Israeli army.
This vote ends an impasse between the 15 members of the Council, after the failure of four draft resolutions presented last month, to adopt a text also calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas since the attack of October 7.
The United States, Russia and Britain, which have veto power as permanent members of the Council, abstained in the vote on the draft resolution submitted by Malta. The other 12 members voted in favor.
A last-minute attempt by Russia to amend the text to include a call for an immediate humanitarian truce leading to a ceasefire failed.
The impasse in the Security Council in recent weeks has mainly been linked to rhetoric regarding the fighting – calling for a pause or ceasefire, while a pause is traditionally considered less formal and shorter than a ceasefire. Washington supported the principle of pauses, while Moscow pushed for a ceasefire.
Furthermore, the text approved on Wednesday does not condemn the actions of Hamas, a point of contention for the United States, a long-time ally of Israel, and Great Britain.
The Security Council calls in the document for “urgent and prolonged humanitarian pauses, and corridors across the Gaza Strip, for a sufficient number of days to allow (…) full, rapid, safe and without hindrance.
The resolution also calls for respect for international law, in particular for the protection of civilians including children. It calls on all stakeholders not to deprive civilians in Gaza of the essential services and humanitarian aid necessary for their survival.
Two texts presented last month by Russia failed to obtain sufficient support. The United States vetoed a draft resolution drafted by Brazil, while Russia and China vetoed an American text.
Faced with this impasse in the Security Council, the UN General Assembly approved on October 28 a text submitted by Arab countries calling for an immediate humanitarian truce and unhindered access of aid to the Gaza Strip. .
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; French version by Jean Terzian)
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