The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution urging all parties involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza through all border crossings. Additionally, the resolution requests the appointment of a coordinator by the U.N. secretary-general to facilitate the delivery of aid. This development highlights America’s increasing isolation on the global stage as it tries to protect Israel from mounting criticism over its actions in Gaza.
The United States has consistently opposed calls for a complete cease-fire, instead supporting Israel’s objective of eliminating Hamas. The fear is that a halt in fighting would give the militants an opportunity to regroup and launch further attacks on Israel. However, this stance has drawn criticism from other nations, accusing the U.S. of being hypocritical regarding human rights issues.
Earlier, the U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. However, the same resolution was passed in the General Assembly with overwhelming support. In November, a separate resolution calling for “humanitarian pauses” also passed the Security Council, with the U.S. abstaining.
Russia’s ambassador to the U.N., Vasily Nebenzya, criticized Washington’s role in delaying the recent vote, describing it as “cynical and irresponsible” and accusing the U.S. of supporting a “toothless” draft that is convenient for its own interests. Russia attempted to propose an amendment that called for an urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities but was blocked by the U.S. Nebenzya stated that Russia would have vetoed the resolution if not for the support of Arab states.
In response, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, dismissed Russia’s criticism and referred to the country’s actions in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden for his firm support throughout the negotiations. Erdan also highlighted the Security Council’s failure to condemn the massacre that occurred on October 7.
Throughout the past week, negotiations over the resolution faced repeated delays, exacerbating the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Health authorities under Hamas estimate that around 20,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, while over 135 U.N. aid workers have also perished. The situation has led to over half a million people depleting their food supplies and facing the looming threat of hunger and starvation.
The passing of this resolution by the Security Council underscores the urgent need for humanitarian aid to reach the suffering Palestinian civilians in Gaza. It remains to be seen how effectively the resolution will be implemented and whether it will alleviate the dire situation on the ground.,
The United Nations Security Council recently passed a resolution aimed at increasing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The resolution emphasizes the urgent need to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region, particularly in light of recent escalations of violence. Notably, the United States abstained from voting on the resolution, signaling a shift in its approach towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This resolution highlights the international community’s commitment to providing essential support to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza.
