New York – France submitted an amended draft resolution to the UN Security Council, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while the Council called on Israel to allow more aid to enter the besieged Strip.
The amended draft resolution included a rejection of any forced displacement of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. It also demanded the opening of all crossing points into and into the Gaza Strip, and stressed the implementation of the measures announced by Israel regarding increasing aid.
The draft submitted by France to the Security Council on Thursday called for the permanent opening of the port of Ashdod and the land road from Jordan to the Gaza Strip, and stressed the rejection of any ground attack on Rafah.
The French draft resolution came regarding two weeks following the Security Council adopted a resolution for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and the Council failed to pass an amendment to the draft resolution that included the phrase “permanent ceasefire.”
The Council stressed the urgent need to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the necessity of removing all obstacles to its delivery, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all “hostages.”
In a related context, a statement issued by the UN Security Council stated that Council members called for the immediate lifting of all obstacles to sending and distributing humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The statement added that the members of the Security Council reaffirmed their deep concern regarding all the victims in this conflict, the catastrophic humanitarian situation, and the threat of imminent famine in the Strip. They also affirmed their support for the life-saving efforts undertaken by United Nations staff and their agencies, including UNRWA.
After Israel pledged to open additional outlets for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, the members called on Tel Aviv to do “more” in light of the catastrophic conditions in the besieged Strip.
Last week, Israel announced the opening of the Erez crossing (Beit Hanoun) and the use of the port of the city of Ashdod, located to the north of the Gaza Strip, to bring in more humanitarian aid. However, the announced measures have not yet been implemented, and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed yesterday, Wednesday, that they are in the process of preparation. Saying that the Hebrew state “will flood Gaza with aid.”
In a related context, members of the Security Council stressed “the necessity of conducting a full, transparent and comprehensive investigation” into Israel’s killing of 7 aid workers with the World Central Kitchen organization.
They pointed out that “this number is more than three times greater than the number of humanitarian relief workers who were killed in any other conflict in the world during an entire year,” as their killing raised the number of relief workers who were killed due to Israeli bombing since the aggression on the Gaza Strip. Gaza to at least 224.
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2024-04-13 10:14:06
