2023-11-15 21:56:15
Twelve of the 15 member states voted for the text. Resolutions of the Security Council are binding under international law and can thus develop international influence. The resolution introduced by Council Member Malta calls, among other things, for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days” to ensure humanitarian assistance in accordance with international law.
But there is no talk of a formal ceasefire. The text focuses strongly on the suffering of Palestinian minors. It expresses “deep concern regarding the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and its serious impact on the civilian population, in particular the disproportionate impact on children.”
UN Security Council calls for ceasefires
The UN Security Council has adopted a Gaza resolution calling for a ceasefire. After a long struggle, the most powerful UN body in New York agreed on the joint resolution.
“Forced relocations” are rejected
All parties to the conflict are required to comply with international law, a “forced relocation of the civilian population” is rejected, and vital services must not be withheld from the people in the Gaza Strip. According to diplomats, these positions should be understood in relation to Israel’s actions in the region – although the country is not mentioned by name throughout the document.
The text only mentions the Islamist Hamas, which attacked Israel on October 7th and carried out a massacre of civilians with around 1,200 deaths, in its demand for the release of the Israeli hostages kidnapped to the Gaza Strip.
No condemnation of the Hamas terrorist attack
Until shortly before the vote, it was questionable whether the USA, as Israel’s closest ally, might tolerate the adoption of the resolution. In October, Washington vetoed a draft because, among other things, it did not emphasize Israel’s right to self-defense.
debate
Middle East: How to break the spiral of violence?
The resolution that has now been adopted does not address this, nor is there any condemnation of the Hamas massacre on October 7th. The USA, like China, Russia, France and Great Britain, has veto rights. The Council also has ten member states elected for two-year terms. A resolution needs at least nine of the 15 votes, and there can be no veto.
Israel: First hostage release
Israel rejects any longer humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza war as long as 239 hostages are held by the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced this on Wednesday evening in response to a Gaza resolution.
Spokesperson for the Israeli army on the current situation in the Middle East
Arye Sharuz Shalicar, a spokesman for the Israeli army, reports from Tel Aviv on the current situation in Israel and the military operations that the Israeli armed forces are currently carrying out in the hospital in Gaza.
“Israel calls on the UN Security Council and the international community to resolutely demand the release of all Israeli hostages, as the resolution stipulates,” the State Department statement said. “Israel expects the UN Security Council to unequivocally condemn Hamas and comment on the need to create a new security situation in the Gaza Strip.”
USA gave up blockade
U.N. expert Richard Gowan of the Crisis Group think tank said U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield appeared to have made it clear to Washington “that the U.S. must allow some sort of action in the Council following weeks of blocking progress.” The United States was careful to avoid calling for a formal ceasefire in the text.
“So ultimately the U.S. achieved its main goal of focusing the council on humanitarian action rather than calling for a complete end to the war,” Gowan said. At Wednesday’s meeting, Russia failed to integrate the demand for a final cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire into the draft.
Long struggle for resolution
There was immense pressure on the UN Security Council to reach a common position following weeks of negotiations. Until Wednesday, drafts had failed, among other things, due to the vetoes of the USA on the one hand and Russia and China on the other.
The UN General Assembly with its 193 members passed a resolution clearly critical of Israel at the end of October with a large majority. This decision was not binding under international law.
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