UN Council to Decide Gaza Ceasefire Amid Crisis

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    The United Nations is poised to hold a pivotal vote on a draft resolution calling for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza” on Wednesday. This draft, put forth by the 10 elected members of the U.N. Security Council who serve two-year terms, insists on adherence to this truce by all involved parties. However, there are predictions that the United States will use its veto power to block the resolution.

    Emerging out of concerns following the October 7, 2023, sudden attack on southern Israel by Hamas and other factions, the resolution also demands the release of hostages currently held by these groups. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is described as “catastrophic,” prompting the resolution to call for the “immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.” This would ensure the safe and widespread distribution of aid facilitated by the U.N. and other humanitarian organizations.

    Scheduled for late Wednesday, the vote comes in the ongoing context of violent incidents, exacerbated by the establishment of aid distribution points within Israeli military zones. These points were created by an Israeli and U.S.-endorsed organization, allegedly to bypass Hamas. However, the United Nations has criticized this system, asserting it fails to address the food crisis in Gaza and compromises humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality.

    Several U.N. diplomats, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of discussions, have indicated the likelihood of a U.S. veto. While the U.S. Mission to the U.N. refrained from commenting on the draft, Israel’s U.N. Mission also abstained from offering remarks.

    Gaza, with its population of approximately 2 million, is heavily dependent on external aid due to the severe disruption of local food production resulting from ongoing military actions by Israel. Since a blockade was imposed on March 2, aid flow has been severely restricted, with only limited supplies reaching the region late last month due to pressure from allies and warnings of dire shortages.

    U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric highlighted the persistent and significant needs within Gaza, pointing out that the current levels of U.N. aid penetration remain insufficient. Since a partial lifting of the blockade, over 620 truckloads have crossed from Israel, but only about 370 truckloads containing essential items like flour and medicine have managed to reach those in need, with incidents of looting reported.

    Dujarric stressed the urgency of restoring large-scale humanitarian access and called for U.N. operations to be conducted safely, respecting humanitarian principles fully. Since the attacks on October 7, the Security Council has deliberated over 14 resolutions related to Gaza, approving four. A prior proposal from the elected council members mirrored the current resolution’s demand for a ceasefire. While 14 member states supported it, the U.S. previously vetoed this due to a lack of provision linking it to the unconditional release of all hostages.

    This follows the October attacks led by Hamas militants, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and the capture of 251 hostages. As per the latest counts, 58 hostages remain in captivity, though many have been freed through ceasefire agreements or other negotiations.

    Throughout Israel’s military campaign, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 54,000 Palestinian casualties, predominantly among women and children. While these figures are generally acknowledged by the U.N. and independent observers, Israel has raised questions about their accuracy due to the Health Ministry’s ties to the Hamas-administered government.