The UN Security Council postponed again – until today, Friday – voting on a draft resolution aimed at improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza, in a text that in its latest version became very weak after devoid of any call to stop the fighting immediately, but the chances of its approval increased by obtaining the support of Washington.
The decision to postpone came after two closed consultation sessions yesterday without reaching a consensus that would guarantee that the United States would not object to the project and use its veto power against it.
US delegate to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that her country could support the amended draft Security Council resolution on humanitarian aid to Gaza, if it was put to a vote in its current form.
Greenfield did not specify whether her country would vote yes or abstain in favor of the project, but she said that the current draft resolution could be supported and that it would provide aid to those who need it and establish a mechanism on the ground that supports the provision of aid.
The American delegate said, “We worked hard this week with the UAE, others, and Egypt to reach a decision that we can support.”
She added, “The draft resolution has not been weakened. The draft resolution is very strong, and enjoys the full support of the Arab group.”
Different text
Tel Aviv Tribune had obtained the latest copy of the draft resolution discussed by the Security Council regarding expanding the scope of humanitarian aid to Gaza and monitoring it.
The new text is the result of arduous negotiations that took place under the American threat to use its veto power again, and it no longer resembles at all the original version that the UAE presented to the Security Council table on Sunday.
The draft merely calls for urgent steps to be taken to allow immediate access to aid, and to create conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.
The previous version called for an urgent suspension of hostilities, and taking urgent steps for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.
While the Security Council has been witnessing arduous negotiations over this text for days, it is facing widespread criticism due to its failure to act since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas.
The vote, which was originally scheduled for Monday, was postponed several times, most recently yesterday evening.
On December 8, the United States used its veto against a previous draft resolution calling for a “humanitarian ceasefire” in this besieged sector.