The United Nations Security Council, a resolution advocating substantial humanitarian aid to Gaza was approved, aimed at alleviating the impending threats of famine and deadly epidemics in the region. However, the resolution stopped short of calling for an immediate suspension of hostilities, a point contested by the United States. The US also insisted on eliminating a clause that granted exclusive control of humanitarian deliveries to the UN.
The resolution, proposed by the United Arab Emirates, appeals for the establishment of “conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities” instead of an outright demand for a ceasefire. It urgently calls for the appointment of a UN humanitarian coordinator to oversee the expansion of the current inadequate flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza, emphasizing the need for cooperation from all parties involved.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed skepticism regarding the resolution’s effectiveness without a ceasefire. On social media, he asserted, “A humanitarian ceasefire is the only way to begin to meet the desperate needs of people in Gaza and end their ongoing nightmare.”
Guterres pointed out that the distribution of humanitarian aid faced significant obstacles due to the manner in which Israel was conducting its offensive. He argued that the focus should not solely be on the number of aid trucks allowed across the border but also on the impediments created by Israel within Gaza itself.
The Biden administration had postponed the vote four times before finally supporting the resolution on Thursday night. However, the US opposed an immediate cessation of hostilities and the provision giving the UN exclusive oversight of humanitarian delivery. In Friday’s vote, all council members, except the US and Russia, supported the resolution, with the latter two abstaining.
US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, expressed overwhelming support for the resolution but abstained due to the absence of condemnation for the Hamas attack that triggered the conflict. Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya criticized the resolution, claiming that the US had rendered it ineffective and allowed Israeli forces complete freedom of action.
Israel’s permanent representative, Gilad Erdan, dismissed the resolution’s focus on aid mechanisms as “unnecessary and disconnected from reality,” asserting that Israel was already facilitating aid deliveries. However, aid agencies argue that the current scale of aid is insufficient for Gaza’s population of over 2.2 million people, 90% of whom are displaced.
As the UN Security Council grapples with the humanitarian crisis, Israel expanded its ground offensive in Gaza, leading to new evacuations in urban refugee camps and the announcement of additional troop deployments.
The International Rescue Committee condemned the failure to demand an immediate and sustained ceasefire, labeling it “unjustifiable” from a humanitarian perspective. The conflict has taken a devastating toll, with over 20,000 people killed, including a significant number of women and children, and approximately 85% of Gaza’s population displaced after 11 weeks of intense fighting.
Despite ongoing talks in Cairo mediated by Egypt and Qatar, there is little optimism for an immediate breakthrough in the conflict. The dire humanitarian situation in Gaza persists, with the health system on the brink of collapse and a looming risk of famine for the entire population. Brig John Deverell, a former senior British officer, called for a new resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing the urgency of halting the fighting to address the long-term challenges facing Gaza.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
