The US has expressed serious concerns over a draft UN Security Council resolution on Gaza, just hours before a planned vote on Thursday. The council was supposed to vote on calling for “urgent humanitarian pauses”, but the wording of the resolution has been a topic of intense discussion and debate. The US is worried that the resolution, put forward by the United Arab Emirates, could potentially “slow down” humanitarian aid into Gaza. This has raised widespread concerns and raised questions about the effectiveness of the resolution.
Throughout the week, the Security Council, whose role is to ensure global peace and security, has repeatedly postponed the draft resolution aimed at bringing about a ceasefire. The main point of contention seems to be the proposal to have a UN mechanism to monitor aid into Gaza, which the Arab group of nations sees as an essential part of any meaningful resolution. However, the US is concerned that this could undermine Israel’s control of the screening process and has requested more time for discussions with Egypt about a suitable monitoring mechanism that can benefit all parties involved.
Currently, Israel has control over monitoring all aid and fuel deliveries to Gaza. However, the aim of the resolution is to facilitate and expand humanitarian assistance in Gaza, which the US believes is crucial. The US mission to the United Nations has stated that the resolution must ultimately help the situation on the ground and not worsen it. They are actively working on the draft resolution and a vote could potentially occur in the coming hours.
Earlier this month, a majority of the Security Council members supported a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, but the US vetoed it and the UK abstained. Both the US and Israel believe that a ceasefire would benefit Hamas, and instead, they support pauses in fighting. However, there has been increasing pressure for a pause in the fighting due to the escalating casualties and the risk of famine in Gaza.
Hamas has reported that over 20,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7th, and the UN’s World Food Programme has warned that Gaza is at risk of famine if the war continues. More than one in four households in Gaza are facing extreme hunger, and the amount of aid reaching Gaza falls short of the amount needed. The severity and rapid deterioration of the food insecurity situation in Gaza are unprecedented, and immediate action is required to prevent famine.
Talks have been held in Egypt to negotiate a new truce, similar to the week-long pause in fighting last month that saw hostages released. However, these talks suffered a setback when Hamas stated that they would not agree to a partial release of hostages for a partial ceasefire. They demand a full end to the war before releasing more hostages. On the other hand, Israel has consistently rejected a permanent ceasefire with Hamas.
The situation in Gaza remains critical, with ongoing violence and a growing humanitarian crisis. The concerns expressed by the US over the UN Security Council resolution highlight the complexities and challenges in finding a resolution that can effectively address the situation in Gaza while balancing the interests of all parties involved. Hopefully, further discussions and negotiations can lead to a resolution that provides the necessary humanitarian aid and works towards achieving a lasting peace in the region.
