Finally breaking their impasse over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Wednesday that called for “urgent humanitarian pauses” to permit unrestricted humanitarian access in the besieged, war-torn Gaza Strip in the midst of intense bombardment and fighting.
On Wednesday, the 15-nation Council passed a resolution demanding the unconditional and prompt release of all hostages held by Hamas and other organizations, including minors, in addition to guaranteeing prompt access for humanitarian aid. With 12 votes in favor, 0 against, and 3 abstentions from the US, the UK, and Russia, the resolution was written by Malta.
In accordance with international humanitarian law, the resolution demanded “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days to enable, full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access” for UN agencies and their allies to deliver necessities in Gaza.
This came about after four previous efforts to provide humanitarian access during the month-long confrontation between Israel and Hamas, which started on October 7 following the group’s unprecedented onslaught. A US resolution affirming member nations’ rights to self-defense against terrorist threats to international peace and security was vetoed by China and Russia.
Parallel to this, two resolutions proposed by Moscow were rejected by Washington, while a resolution proposing humanitarian pauses in Gaza was sponsored by Brazil but did not get enough votes. Former US President Joe Biden has previously advocated for “humanitarian pauses” in response to the growing number of fatalities in Gaza.
What is said in the resolution?
The October 7 assaults in Israel, in which Hamas terrorists murdered around 1,200 people and kidnapped about 240 more, are not mentioned in the resolution. It also mentions nothing of Israel’s counterattack in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, including airstrikes and a ground invasion that, according to the health ministry of the area, has killed over 11,500 Palestinians, the most of them women and children.
The resolution asks for humanitarian corridors and pauses to be established across the Gaza Strip for a “sufficient number of days” so that the UN, Red Cross, and other relief organizations may freely provide food, fuel, water, power, and medical supplies to everyone in need. According to the statement, the pauses should also permit immediate rescue and recovery operations as well as the maintenance of vital infrastructure.
According to United Arab Emirates Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, the resolution “is a first, important and overdue step” and will alter the global view that the Security Council “is indifferent.” “To bring the unity of the council today to speak with one voice on the subject that has haunted all of us over the last month is, I think, momentous,” she added. “These are difficult geopolitical times.”
Responses from the non-absentee nations
Washington “could not vote yes on a text that did not condemn Hamas or reaffirm the right of all member states to protect their citizens from terrorist attacks,” said US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. It is the first time, she said, that a resolution mentioning “Hamas” has been accepted by the Council without specifically denouncing the horrific incident that occurred on October 7.
While acknowledging the importance of the resolution, Britain “regrets” that the first resolution on the subject adopted by the Council was unable to categorically denounce Hamas’ act, according to UK Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward.
“Those assaults should have made their barbarism evident to all of us. We have refrained today for that reason. To be clear, however, we fully support the resolution’s goal of allowing assistance to in and captives out. It was imperative and long overdue for the Council to address this issue, Woodward said.
The lack of a demand for a ceasefire was cited by Russia’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia as one of the primary reasons Moscow abstained from voting on the draft resolution. Any humanitarian effort, he said, must result in an instant end to hostilities.
The resolution, which overcame significant disagreements that stopped the UNSC from enacting four earlier resolutions, was rejected by Israel in the meantime.
The resolution, according to a statement from Israel’s UN ambassador Gilad Erdan, “is disconnected from reality and is meaningless.” He continued by criticizing the council for not denouncing Hamas, alleging that the militants were purposefully allowing the humanitarian situation to worsen in order to put pressure on the UN to force Israel to withdraw from Gaza.
“Israel will continue to act until Hamas is destroyed and the hostages are returned,” he said.