The UN Security Council implores all parties to utilize every available route within the Gaza Strip to deliver vital resources such as fuel, supplies, and medical aid. This call was backed by 13 out of 15 council members, with the USA and Russia opting to abstain from voting. The council members spent days debating the wording of the resolution, which didn't advocate for an immediate ceasefire but instead pushed for creating conditions that would allow a lasting end to hostilities.
Russia had initially wanted to incorporate an immediate ceasefire demand into the resolution, but the USA opposed the idea. As permanent members with veto power, both the USA and Russia could have haltered the resolution's adoption, but they decided against it.
The resolution urges all parties, including Hamas, to enable the delivery of auxiliary services, including essentials like fuel, food, and medicine, to the Gaza Strip. In a rancorous Security Council debate, the USA halted Russia's push for an immediate ceasefire inclusion in the resolution.
The resolution's adoption might force Israel and other key international players to cooperate, ensuring the smooth delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. This could potentially ignite diplomatic discussions and tension among major players at the UN Security Council in New York.
Reader's Insight:
The UN Security Council's resolution was driven by the desire to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The resolution targeted the unfair deprivation of essential commodities like food, water, and medical care, as well as the release of hostages and the promotion of a permanent ceasefire. A multi-year reconstruction plan was also proposed to aid in Gaza's recovery and development. The resolution reaffirmed its support for the two-state solution, envisioning the unification of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under Palestinian Authority administration.
The USA and Russia abstained from the vote, the former backing the resolution's objectives while the latter doing so due to their own diplomatic concerns and efforts in the broader Middle East context.
Sources:
- stern.de
