On Friday, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution urging substantial humanitarian aid to Gaza. Notably, the original call for an “urgent suspension of hostilities” between Israel and Hamas was absent from the resolution.
The vote took place amid global appeals to halt the prolonged and unprecedented escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. As the humanitarian situation in the besieged strip worsens, reaching critical levels, this resolution addresses the pressing need for robust assistance.
More than 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have experienced displacement, and the circumstances during the Israeli siege and bombardment have been described by UN officials as a “hell on earth.”
The resolution marks the end of a week and a half of intense diplomatic efforts, during which members sought language that would avoid objections from veto-wielding nations that had thwarted previous resolutions on Gaza within the 15-member body.
The initial draft proposed an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities” and sought to grant the UN greater authority over aid deliveries into Gaza. However, the approved resolution uses more unequivocal language regarding a ceasefire and retains Israel’s control over all aid.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council, “This was tough, but we got there.”
She emphasized the collective efforts “to alleviate this humanitarian crisis, to get life-saving assistance into Gaza and to get hostages out of Gaza, to push for the protection of innocent civilians and humanitarian workers, and to work towards a lasting peace,” she added. “This resolution speaks to the severity of this crisis, and it calls on us all to do more.”
The vote took place promptly following the United States veto of a Russian proposal to amend and enhance the language related to the ceasefire. Russia argued that the draft resolution had been “neutered” by the United States.
Vassily Nebenzia, Russian ambassador to UN mentioned in the council before the vote: “By singing off on this, the council would essentially be giving the Israeli armed forces complete freedom of movement for further clearing of the Gaza Strip.”
Thomas-Greenfield accused her Russian counterpart of hypocrisy, pointing to Russia’s own destructive invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022.
The resolution
The council has called on the involved parties to “allow, facilitate and enable” the unimpeded distribution of substantial humanitarian aid directly to the civilian population in Palestine across the entire Gaza strip. Furthermore, it has asked the Secretary-General to designate a Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator tasked with overseeing, coordinating, monitoring, and verifying activities in Gaza.
During the press briefing following the resolution’s passage, the Secretary-General highlighted the profound impact of the conflict, noting that over 20,000 Palestinians had been reported as killed, and 85 percent of the population had been compelled to evacuate their homes.
He further elaborated on the significant challenge, emphasizing the way offensive tactics are creating substantial barriers to the distribution of humanitarian aid within Gaza.
I hope that today’s Security Council resolution may help improve the delivery of much-needed aid but a humanitarian ceasefire is the only way to begin to meet the desperate needs of people in Gaza and end their ongoing nightmare.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) December 22, 2023
He emphasized the absence of four essential elements necessary for an effective aid operation. These include security, a secure environment for staff, logistical capabilities, and the restoration of commercial activities.
Regarding security, he pointed out that the ongoing Israeli bombardment and active combat in densely populated areas pose threats to both civilians and aid workers.