UN Security Council due to vote on delayed Gaza resolution
United Nations (United States) (AFP) – The United Nations Security Council was due to vote Wednesday on a much-delayed resolution calling for a pause to the Israel-Hamas war after members wrangled over wording while aid efforts in the Gaza Strip neared collapse.
Issued on: 20/12/2023 -
United Nations (United States) (AFP) – The United Nations Security Council was due to vote Wednesday on a much-delayed resolution calling for a pause to the Israel-Hamas war after members wrangled over wording while aid efforts in the Gaza Strip neared collapse.
Issued on: 20/12/2023 -
Members of the UN Security Council have grappled for days to find common ground on the resolution on a pause in the Israel-Hamas war
© Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP/File
The humanitarian situation in Gaza was rapidly deteriorating, with a senior UN official saying Israel's steps to allow in aid were "far short" of mounting need.
Members of the council had grappled for days to find common ground on the resolution, a vote on which was pushed back several times throughout Tuesday, after being postponed Monday.
An official scheduling document said the 15-member body would finally vote on Wednesday.
Israel, backed by its ally Washington, a veto-wielding permanent Security Council member, has opposed the use of the term "ceasefire."
Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, said that "everyone is basically stuck waiting to see what the US will decide to do."
"It looks like even US diplomats do not know how this saga will end," he added, after several United States diplomats gave non-committal answers when asked what would happen and why the vote had been delayed through Tuesday.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he did not want to "get ahead of a resolution that hasn't been voted on yet."
This week's back and forth comes after an impasse earlier this month, when the United States, despite unprecedented pressure from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, blocked the adoption of a Security Council resolution on the war.
It had called for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip, where Israel continues its deadly strikes in retaliation for Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack.
'Human catastrophe'
Last week, the General Assembly adopted the same nonbinding resolution by 153 votes to 10, with 23 abstentions, out of 193 member states.
Bolstered by that overwhelming support, Arab countries announced the new attempt at the Security Council.
A draft text prepared by the UAE, obtained by AFP on Sunday, called for "an urgent and lasting cessation of hostilities to allow unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip."
The humanitarian situation in Gaza was rapidly deteriorating, with a senior UN official saying Israel's steps to allow in aid were "far short" of mounting need.
Members of the council had grappled for days to find common ground on the resolution, a vote on which was pushed back several times throughout Tuesday, after being postponed Monday.
An official scheduling document said the 15-member body would finally vote on Wednesday.
Israel, backed by its ally Washington, a veto-wielding permanent Security Council member, has opposed the use of the term "ceasefire."
Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, said that "everyone is basically stuck waiting to see what the US will decide to do."
"It looks like even US diplomats do not know how this saga will end," he added, after several United States diplomats gave non-committal answers when asked what would happen and why the vote had been delayed through Tuesday.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he did not want to "get ahead of a resolution that hasn't been voted on yet."
This week's back and forth comes after an impasse earlier this month, when the United States, despite unprecedented pressure from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, blocked the adoption of a Security Council resolution on the war.
It had called for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip, where Israel continues its deadly strikes in retaliation for Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack.
'Human catastrophe'
Last week, the General Assembly adopted the same nonbinding resolution by 153 votes to 10, with 23 abstentions, out of 193 member states.
Bolstered by that overwhelming support, Arab countries announced the new attempt at the Security Council.
A draft text prepared by the UAE, obtained by AFP on Sunday, called for "an urgent and lasting cessation of hostilities to allow unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip."
Vetoes of UN Security Council resolutions on Palestinian territories
© Corin FAIFE / AFP
The last version seen by AFP was, however, a modified text that seemingly sought to salvage a compromise.
It was less direct, calling for "the urgent suspension of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and for urgent steps towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities."
United Nations official Tor Wennesland said Tuesday that Israel's "limited" steps to allow aid into Gaza "are positive, but fall far short of what is needed to address the human catastrophe on the ground."
After the attack on October 7, which Israeli authorities say left around 1,140 people dead, most of them civilians, Israel vowed to "annihilate" Hamas.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says Israel's military response has killed 19,667 people, mostly women and children.
© 2023 AFP
The last version seen by AFP was, however, a modified text that seemingly sought to salvage a compromise.
It was less direct, calling for "the urgent suspension of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and for urgent steps towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities."
United Nations official Tor Wennesland said Tuesday that Israel's "limited" steps to allow aid into Gaza "are positive, but fall far short of what is needed to address the human catastrophe on the ground."
After the attack on October 7, which Israeli authorities say left around 1,140 people dead, most of them civilians, Israel vowed to "annihilate" Hamas.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says Israel's military response has killed 19,667 people, mostly women and children.
© 2023 AFP
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SOCIALIST WORKER
December 19, 2023
A Gaza “ceasefire” resolution that the United Nations Security Council is set to discuss on Wednesday has been systematically stripped of real content to satisfy the US government and its allies.
The Arab regimes scrabbling to put together a text are desperate that Joe Biden’s administration should not veto the motion. That’s what the US did over the call for a “humanitarian pause” on 18 October and for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire on 9 December.
The vote had been due on Monday—and then on Tuesday. But the US said it could not support a reference to a “cessation of hostilities”, but might accept a call for a “suspension of hostilities”.
In other words, whatever its fears about the anti-imperialist wave that Israel may be detonating, the US will still oppose a ceasefire of more than a few days. There might be a pause where the victims will be allowed a little food and water before the killing begins again.
And in any case UN resolutions—even Security Council ones that are deemed “legally binding”—are often ignored by the great powers and Israel.
The UN debates come as the number of Palestinians killed by Israel is officially about to exceed 20,000—and in reality, is already far more.
The Gaza health ministry said on Tuesday that Israeli troops have killed at least 19,453 Palestinians since 7 October and injured at least 52,286 people, Nearly 8,000 people are missing, many of them buried beneath the rubble of their homes, schools and hospitals.
The resolution tabled on Tuesday was expected to contain the language of a “sustainable ceasefire” that comes from an article in the Sunday Times by British foreign secretary Lord Cameron and German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock.
But that article underlines the continuing support for Israel. It says, “We do not believe that calling right now for a general and immediate ceasefire, hoping it somehow becomes permanent, is the way forward.
Full coverage of the struggle in Palestine
“Even before October 7, it was hard to imagine Hamas as a real partner for peace. After October 7, we can have no illusions. Leaving Hamas in power in Gaza would be a permanent roadblock on the path to a two-state solution.”
If the US and Britain wanted a ceasefire they would stop supplying arms to Israel and stop the billions in handouts that sustain the slaughter. Instead, on a visit to Israel, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin vowed on Monday to keep arming its ally.
“We’ll continue to provide Israel with the equipment that you need to defend your country including critical munitions, tactical vehicles and air defence systems,” Austin said.
He also announced the formation of a ten-nation coalition, including Britain, to fight militarily against attacks by the Houthi government in Yemen against Israeli-linked tankers, cargo ships and other vessels in the Red Sea.
But for all the Israeli cruelty, and the Western backing, the Palestinian resistance continues to fight back. Israel has not eliminated Hamas in northern Gaza which it invaded ten weeks ago, let alone in the South. Most Hamas leaders remain free.
The dissension inside Israel grows as the government kills their own hostages in Gaza rather than freeing them.
Hamas’ military spokesperson Abu Obeida said on 15 December, “It’s 70 days since the beginning of the Al Aqsa Flood battle, and our people are still engaged in this battle.
“Our brave fighters are fighting a heavily armed force equipped with lethal weapons, ammunition, supported by planes, warships, and armoured vehicles, under the cover of forces of oppression and aggression, led by the American administration.
“Yet, our fighters are heroically fighting historical battles with light and pride. The whole world sees how our fighters destroy and burn the enemy’s armoured vehicles.”
As Israel’s crimes mount, it’s important to keep building solidarity with the Palestinians. The next national demonstration called by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War and others is not until 13 January. It’s important to keep building that.
But at a local level, actions continue. Around 70 people gathered outside Lambeth town hall in south London on Monday evening. The Labour council has refused to back a ceasefire and would not even discuss it on Monday.
Earlier in the day protesters in Hastings gathered outside the General Dynamics arms factory.
Simon Hester, chair of the trades council, told the protest, “We support all the activities, including this one over the war in Gaza. We oppose the Israeli settler state and the way Western governments are supporting Israel’s genocidal attack”
He attacked the Tories but also condemned Labour’s Keir Starmer for backing the killing. Hester then said the present horrors were rooted in “75 years of oppression” but had also seen “75 years of Palestinian resistance” and that he refused to condemn that resistance.
Around 800 people joined a march for Palestine in Portsmouth on Sunday and 1,000 in Liverpool. Sisters Uncut has called a protest in central London at 12 noon this Saturday, 23 December.
In a positive sign of wide support, a jury delivered a unanimous not guilty verdict for two Palestine Action supporters who in November 2022 defaced a statue of Tory foreign secretary Arthur Balfour’s statue in the House of Commons.
Balfour’s declaration in 1917 was a key step in imperialism’s backing for the Zionist expulsion of the Palestinian people.
The legal argument for the protesters included their belief that the public would consent to the action as a form of expression and if they were aware of the history, consequence and legacy of the Balfour Declaration.
New UN Security Council Ceasefire Resolution Delayed as US Aims to Weaken It
The US objected to the proposed call for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities.”
By Jake Johnson ,
Published December 19, 2023
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks during the UN General Assembly emergency special session on Israel's war at the United Nations headquarters on December 12, 2023, in New York City.MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO / GETTY IMAGESTruthout needs 242 new sustaining donors before the end of 2023 — will you be one? Your tax-deductible monthly gift will be matched for the entire first year!
The United Nations Security Council on Monday delayed an expected vote on a new Gaza cease-fire resolution as the U.S. worked to weaken the measure’s language, objecting to the proposed call for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities.”
Unnamed diplomats told The Associated Press that the wording will likely be changed to call for a “suspension” of hostilities or some other watered down phrasing amenable to the U.S., which used its veto power to tank a Security Council cease-fire resolution less than two weeks ago.
The veto drew international condemnation, and calls for a cease-fire have grown in the days since. In an overwhelming 153-10 vote on December 12, the U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution demanding an “immediate humanitarian cease-fire,” with the U.S. and Israel among the small number of opponents. Unlike those passed by the Security Council, General Assembly resolutions are nonbinding.
The 15-member Security Council is expected to vote on the new, potentially watered down cease-fire resolution as early as Tuesday morning.
Mary Robinson, chair of The Elders and former president of Ireland, said in a statement ahead of the vote that U.S. President Joe Biden’s “support for Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza is losing him respect all over the world.”
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One military expert, meanwhile, said that the “friendly fire” rate among the IDF is at an unprecedented level.By Sharon Zhang , TRUTHOUTDecember 18, 2023
“The U.S. is increasingly isolated, with allies like Australia, Canada, India, Japan, and Poland switching their votes in the UN General Assembly to support an immediate humanitarian cease-fire,” said Robinson. “The U.S. cannot afford to be further isolated by vetoing this resolution.”
“But even if passed, such resolutions are not enough,” she continued. “UNSCR 2712, agreed last month, is not being fully implemented. It calls for the protection of civilians, the release of all hostages, and immediate humanitarian access. Only a cease-fire will allow for these calls to be met.”
Louis Charbonneau, U.N. director at Human Rights Watch, wrote late last week that the U.S. “should consistently call for respect for international humanitarian law.”
“It says it has urged Israel to protect civilians, so it should support U.N. efforts to do the same,” Charbonneau wrote. “It should back the urgent adoption and implementation of a Security Council resolution that demands Israel and Palestinian armed groups end their laws-of-war violations that have cost thousands of civilian lives. And it should back efforts aimed at ensuring accountability for those responsible for war crimes, no matter who commits them.”
The latest Security Council vote will come as conditions in the Gaza Strip plunge to new depths by the hour as Israel’s U.S.-backed bombing, ground invasion, and suffocating blockade continue.
According to one human rights monitor, Israeli forces have killed more than 10,000 children in Gaza since October 7, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel. Martin Griffiths, the U.N.’s emergency relief coordinator, called the humanitarian disaster in Gaza the worst he’s ever witnessed.
“People can’t leave… No family can plan for their future,” Griffiths told the Financial Times in an interview published over the weekend. “I see these things all over the world, but this is beyond my imagination. And it will get worse.”
Virtually the entire population of Gaza is at risk of starvation, the territory’s water and healthcare systems have collapsed, and infectious diseases are spreading due to contaminated water, overcrowding at makeshift shelters, and lack of medicine.
“The general conditions for most of these people are appalling: They live in temporary structures made of a few pieces of wood banged together and covered in plastic sheeting,” said Chris Hook, Doctors Without Borders’ medical team leader in Gaza. “They struggle to find enough water to meet their hygiene needs.”
At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Hook said, the emergency department is “completely full and new patients are being treated on the floor.”
“Doctors are stepping over bodies of dead children to treat other children who will die anyway,” he added.
On Sunday, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned Israeli forces’ “effective destruction” of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, noting that attacks on the facility caused the deaths of at least eight patients.
“Gaza’s health system was already on its knees, and the loss of another even minimally functioning hospital is a severe blow,” Tedros wrote on social media. “Attacks on hospitals, health personnel, and patients must end. Cease-fire NOW.”
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