The UN's dance with a deadlock: Deciding on a ceasefire for Gaza
Security Council Attains Consensus for Truce in Gaza Conflict
It's showdown time at the UN Security Council tonight, as they deliberate on a resolution to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The resolution calls for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire. But with Israel's closest ally, the United States, expected to veto the proposal, a lasting peace seems elusive.
The draft resolution, previously obtained by AFP, has a noble aim: to bring an end to the devastating conflict, secure the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid, including deliveries from the UN. The significance of this action cannot be overstated. The situation in the Palestinian territory is dire, with the blockade of aid deliveries lasting a crippling 95 days since May 19.
However, the proposed resolution may bite the dust thanks to a US veto. Diplomatic sources have revealed that negotiations with the US have failed, leaving the text's fate uncertain. This is not the first time the Security Council has sidestepped the Middle East issue. Since November, the council has shied away from addressing the crisis, with the last resolution on the matter dating back to June 2024, which supported a US plan for a phased ceasefire and hostage release.
Israel has recently allowed limited humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip; however, the UN criticizes this measure as merely a "drop in the ocean," insufficient to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population. Meanwhile, the GHF aid foundation – funded by the US and Israel – has been working tirelessly to distribute food and medicine in the region, but incidents involving Israeli soldiers firing toward aid centers have reportedly caused numerous casualties.
The GHF aid centers were closed on Wednesday, exacerbating the ongoing crisis in Gaza. The conflict was sparked by a radical Islamic Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, and international pressure mounts for Israel to bring an end to the Gaza war.
As the Security Council gathers for its decision, the international community watches with bated breath. With increasing criticism from human rights organizations and member states, the US veto could further inflame tensions and prolong the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.
References:1. ntv.de, AFP2. Amnesty International3. World Jewish Congress4. United Nations
Enrichment Insights:- US Veto: The US veto of the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza is due to the resolution's failure to condemn Hamas and the US's support for Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas attacks[5].- International Response: The veto has been met with criticism from the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and international human rights organization Amnesty International. The World Jewish Congress, on the other hand, supported the US veto, considering the resolution misguided and potentially dangerous for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide[3].
- The collective disappointment among many UN member states intensifies as the employment policy within the Security Council seems to prioritize political alliances over community policy, with the US anticipated to veto the resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, potentially escalating war-and-conflicts.
- In the shadow of the ongoing disaster in Gaza, general news outlets continue to highlight the significant impact of foreign policy decisions on war-and-conflicts, as the employment policy of the US veto during UN negotiations impacts negatively on the security and wellbeing of the Palestinian population, underlining the substantial role politics play in shaping lives and, in this case, continuing the humanitarian crisis.
