Diplomats say the draft text could be watered down from a “sustainable cessation” to a “suspension” of hostilities to appease the United States and avoid another veto.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is expected to vote to halt fighting in Gaza after the halt was delayed by a day, amid ongoing negotiations to avoid another US veto and as Israel facing growing international pressure to change tactics in the conflict. war against Hamas.
The UNSC is scheduled to meet later Tuesday. A first draft of the new resolution consulted on Monday called for “an urgent and lasting cessation of hostilities to allow unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.”
Diplomatic sources said those terms have been watered down to an “urgent suspension of hostilities” and could be further weakened to satisfy Washington and move closer to a compromise.
“The main sticking point, in our view, is of course the ‘cessation of hostilities,'” Tel Aviv Tribune’s Gabriel Elizondo said, reporting from the UN in New York.
“The United States and Israel say that any resolution containing these words amounts to a ceasefire and they say that it would only benefit Hamas and that the United States would therefore reserve its veto power as it ‘ve done in the past… We think they are. I try to find some sort of language there.
On December 8, despite unprecedented pressure from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the United States – Israel’s closest ally – blocked the adoption of a resolution calling for a “cease immediate humanitarian fire.”
Last week, the 193-member United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) overwhelmingly approved a similar resolution. However, UNGA resolutions are not binding.
NEW: @UAEMissionToUN distributed an updated draft resolution on #Gaza aid/monitoring policy which now “calls for an urgent suspension of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and for urgent steps towards a lasting cessation of hostilities”. Other changes… pic.twitter.com/2UFYhPz3r8
– Rami Ayari (@Raminho) December 19, 2023
The postponement of the vote until Tuesday “means that there are negotiations on the text – most likely to avoid one or more vetoes,” said the secretary general of Amnesty International. Agnes Callamard » published on X. “Every hour, every day that passes – civilians are dying in Gaza. »
Aid distribution
A key question is how to implement and sustain a desperately needed aid operation. Human Rights Watch on Monday accused Israel of deliberately starving Gaza’s population by blocking supplies of water, food and fuel, a method of warfare it called a war crime.
The draft resolution recognizes that civilians in Gaza do not have access to sufficient food, water, sanitation, electricity, telecommunications and medical services “essential for their survival.”
It demands that the parties to the conflict – Hamas and Israel – fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law and allow “the immediate, safe and unimpeded delivery of large-scale humanitarian aid directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the world.” the Gaza Strip.
Tel Aviv Tribune’s Elizondo noted that the draft also “calls on the UN to monitor all aid distribution in Gaza.” It’s something “new,” our correspondent said. “Previous Security Council drafts never contained this wording. »
The draft also reiterates calls for the protection of civilians and infrastructure essential to their survival, including hospitals, schools, places of worship and United Nations facilities. He demands the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners held by Hamas.
Talk of a new truce comes as the United States reiterates its support for Israel in its war.
Speaking alongside Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv on Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said U.S. support for Israel was “unwavering.”
But he added: “We will also continue to emphasize the protection of civilians during the conflict and increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. »
Since the war began on October 7, Israel has killed more than 19,000 Palestinians. Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, which sparked the war, killed around 1,100 people.
