The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote later Wednesday on a call for urgent humanitarian pauses and corridors across the Gaza Strip for several days to allow access for humanitarian aid, diplomats said.
Some diplomats said they expect the 15-member council to adopt the resolution, although some countries are likely to abstain. A resolution requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the United States, Russia, China, France or Britain.
It will be the Council’s fifth attempt to act since Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages. Israel has vowed to exterminate Hamas, which rules Gaza, by attacking the enclave of 2.3 million people from the air, imposing a siege and launching a ground invasion.
The Security Council attempted to act four times in two weeks in October: Russia twice failed to secure the necessary minimum votes, the United States vetoed a resolution drafted by Brazil, and Russia and China they vetoed a resolution drafted by the United States.
The impasse largely centers on the need to call for a humanitarian pause or ceasefire. A pause is generally considered less formal and shorter than a ceasefire, which must be agreed upon by the parties to the conflict.
The draft resolution to be voted on on Wednesday, drafted by Malta, “calls for urgent and prolonged humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days to allow (…) full, rapid, safe and without obstacles “
The text requires respect for international law, in particular the protection of civilians, especially children.
It also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, especially children. The draft does not condemn the actions of Hamas, a point of contention for the United States, Israel’s ally.
The text calls on all parties not to deprive Gaza civilians of basic services and humanitarian aid necessary for their survival, welcomes the initial, limited deliveries of aid and calls for them to be scaled up.
In the wake of last month’s Security Council impasse, the 193-member UN General Assembly adopted on October 28 – by 121 votes in favor – a resolution drafted by Arab states calling for an immediate humanitarian truce and called for humanitarian aid to be granted access to the country. Gaza Strip under siege and protection of civilians.
Source: Terra
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