The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Wednesday approved a resolution calling for urgent and comprehensive “humanitarian breaks and corridors” across the Gaza Strip.
The resolution, drafted by Malta, received twelve votes in favor and three abstentions: the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia.
The resolution has a strong humanitarian angle, with special emphasis on the situation of children in Gaza.
BREAKING: The UN Security Council adopts a resolution proposed by Malta on the Israeli-Palestinian crisis:
In favor (12)
Against (0)
Abstentions (3) – Russia, UK, US pic.twitter.com/2dgoPidrXF– UN News (@UN_News_Centre) November 15, 2023
Despite Malta’s leadership, this draft resolution was the result of the work of the ten non-permanent members of the Security Council, who decided to act in light of the permanent members’ vetoes against the previous four projects that were voted on . was ultimately rejected.
A point of contention during the negotiations was the language surrounding a “ceasefire,” “humanitarian pauses,” or “armistice,” with Russia positioning itself for calling for a ceasefire and the United States opposing any proposal of this type.
The now-approved resolution “calls for comprehensive and urgent humanitarian pauses and corridors for a sufficient number of days” to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
The text, which emphasizes the situation of children in almost every paragraph, “requires all parties to respect their obligations under international law, especially with regard to the protection of civilians, in particular children.”
It also calls for the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, especially children.”
Immediately before the vote, Russia proposed an amendment calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza, but the United States – one of the council’s five permanent members – voted against.
Source: DN
