| 26 October 2023
| Christie Anto
New York, USA - The United Nations Security Council has once again faltered in addressing the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict, despite a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday, Russia and China vetoed a United States resolution, which sought a humanitarian pause to facilitate aid access, protect civilians, and halt arms supplies to Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
The US resolution had undergone revisions after diplomats criticized its initial draft, which had failed to acknowledge the dire humanitarian situation and made a bold statement regarding Israel's right to self-defense. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US representative to the UN, expressed her disappointment after the Russian and Chinese vetoes, emphasizing the importance of not being discouraged by the setback.
In a Security Council vote, ten member states supported the US resolution, while the United Arab Emirates voted against it, and Brazil and Mozambique abstained. Notably, the US's proposal for a humanitarian pause differed from a full ceasefire, which has garnered support from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. A humanitarian pause would only provide temporary relief, potentially lasting for a matter of hours.
China's UN Ambassador, Zhang Jun, criticized the US resolution, stating, "The draft does not reflect the world’s strongest calls for a ceasefire, an end to the fighting, and it does not help resolve the issue. At this moment, a ceasefire is not just a diplomatic term. It means the life and death of many civilians."
Following the rejection of the US resolution, the Security Council voted on a Russian-drafted text that called for a humanitarian ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israel's order for Gaza civilians to relocate to the south in anticipation of a ground assault. This marked Russia's second attempt at a resolution, but it secured just four votes, compared to the five it received on October 16 during its initial effort.
UAE Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, who supported the Russian resolution, stressed the need for the Security Council to take "tangible" action to address the dire situation in Gaza.
In light of the Council's deadlock, the ten elected members of the Security Council have announced their intention to collaborate on a new draft resolution, as confirmed by Malta's UN Ambassador Vanessa Frazier.
The ongoing crisis has raised concerns about the potential for regional instability. Frazier remarked, "This crisis is also gripped by a growing risk of a regional spillover. This demands our undivided attention. We have the duty and the obligation to act."
While the Security Council remains deadlocked, the 193-member UN General Assembly will convene on Friday to vote on a draft resolution put forward by Arab states and others. This resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Importantly, the General Assembly's resolutions, although non-binding, hold significant political weight as they are not subject to vetoes by member states.
Israel's goal to eradicate Hamas, the ruling authority in Gaza, has resulted in a siege on the region and relentless bombing. According to Palestinian authorities, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 6,500 people since its inception, with the recent incident on October 7 being a significant flashpoint, causing 1,400 deaths and the capture of at least 200 individuals.
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