Postponed three times this week alone… “Some diplomats are frustrated”
The UN Security Council again postponed voting on a resolution aimed at stopping fighting in the Gaza Strip and expanding humanitarian aid.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 20th (local time), the Security Council was scheduled to vote on a resolution aimed at stopping fighting in the Gaza Strip and increasing humanitarian goods support. However, the United States, a permanent member of the council, is said to have requested that the vote be postponed.
The United States has Israel as its ally in the Middle East. It has publicly supported Israel since Hamas’ Al-Aqsa flood raid on October 7. Several meetings have been held in the Security Council over the situation in the Gaza Strip, but Israel’s blood allies, the United States, China, and Russia, have expressed differing opinions.
This resolution was drafted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition to humanitarian support through overland trucks, the goal is to increase support through ships and flights. It also included a call for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in order to expand humanitarian support.
Security Council members, including the United States, attempted to adjust their opinions on the resolution through closed-door consultations ahead of the vote, but it appears that they were unable to find an appropriate consensus. In particular, there was great disagreement over a plan to transfer the authority to investigate food, water, and fuel entering the Gaza Strip to the United Nations.
The Security Council has already postponed voting on the resolution twice this week alone. With this postponement, there have been as many as three postponements in one week. The NYT reported that some diplomats are frustrated with the United States’ repeated requests for postponement while also doubting their will to vote on the resolution.
“The point of the resolution is to ensure safe aid to the Gaza Strip,” said Rana Nuseibeh, the UAE ambassador to the United Nations. “For the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, this moment is a ‘code red (a very serious crisis).’” He raised his voice.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.