A resolution to expand Gaza's humanitarian assistance is passed by the UN Security Council

 A resolution to expand Gaza's humanitarian assistance is passed by the UN Security Council

A resolution to expand Gaza's humanitarian assistance is passed by the UN Security Council image source: rawpixel.com

A resolution advocating for enhanced humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip has been accepted by the UN Security Council. Despite without specifically requesting a ceasefire, the UN Secretary-General believed that the action was required in order to distribute relief in an efficient manner.

A resolution advocating for enhanced humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip has been accepted by the UN Security Council.

The United Arab Emirates-drafted resolution was approved by the 15-nation Council on Friday, 13 votes in favor, 0 votes against, with the United States and Russia abstaining, after days of intensive discussions and a postponed vote. not present.

The resolution called on the conflicting parties to immediately let safe, unimpeded large-scale humanitarian aid to be delivered directly to the civilian Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip, and in this respect to immediately allow secure, unhindered There has been a request for prompt action, which has increased humanitarian access and established prerequisites for an end to hostilities permanently. Additionally, it aimed to permit and ease access to all roads leading to the Gaza Strip, including border crossings.

Experts saw the resolution as weak since it did not demand a truce. Speaking to reporters at UN headquarters after the resolution's passage, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the only way to address the desperate needs of the Gaza population and put an end to their continuous tragedy is via a humanitarian ceasefire. He said, "Much more is needed, but I hope today's Security Council resolution can ultimately help do that."

"Of course, I hoped so," Guterres said when asked whether he expected the council to support his request for a truce. This does not imply that events unfold in a way that meets our expectations. In any event, it's always possible to perceive a glass as half full or half empty nowadays. "I hope today's resolution will help people understand that a humanitarian armistice is really essential if we want emergency aid to be delivered effectively," he said.

It took many days and hard nights of discussions to get this right, according to US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, but now this council has offered a glimmer of hope amid an ocean of unspeakable misery. He added that by passing the resolution, the Council demanded that urgent action be taken to establish the framework for an ongoing halt of hostilities and to provide safe, unhindered, and increased humanitarian access. It should be noted that this Council has never before utilized this particular phrase.

He said, "We think language matters to improve support and lay out the challenging steps ahead as we work together to achieve lasting peace." In order to expedite the provision of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip's civilian populace, the resolution mandates that Guterres designate a Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator. This individual will be tasked with facilitating, organizing, overseeing, and validating the humanitarian character of all aid supplies to Gaza. was further asked for. supplied by governments that are not involved in the war.

Human Rights Watch's UN director, Louis Charbonneau, said that although the US did not veto the resolution, it did make a concerted effort to undermine it throughout talks. America will now need to make sure Israel puts it into practice. He said that Israel must quickly put an end to its crimes, not by starving people or attacking them without a permit.

The purposeful five-day delay and the resolution's refusal to demand a ceasefire beyond that period, according to Oxfam's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Sally Abi-Khalil, spoke in response to the Council's adoption of a weak resolution. Incomprehensible and utterly nonsensical. According to Oxfam, an immediate and lasting ceasefire is the only option to guarantee the safe release of hostages, stop the tragic death toll, and provide humanitarian help at the size and speed that is desperately required.

Guterres expressed worry that the manner the battle is being fought in Gaza has not changed much over the last several weeks or days. Civilians are not well protected. Israeli ground operations and heavy bombing are still ongoing. He added that over 20,000 Palestinians had allegedly died, the most of whom were women and children, and that over 1.9 million people, or 85% of Gaza's population, had been ejected from their homes.

According to Guterres, Hamas and other Palestinian organizations are still launching missiles into Israel from Gaza. According to him, a lot of people gauge how successful the relief effort in Gaza is by counting how many trucks from the UN, the Egyptian Red Crescent, and other organizations are permitted to pass the border and unload supplies.

It's an error. The main issue, he said, is that this offensive is being carried out via train, which poses significant challenges to the supply of humanitarian goods within Gaza. are in the process of birthing.

The UAE's permanent ambassador to the UN, Lana Nusseibeh, warned that if immediate action is not done, Gaza might experience starvation.

This class has a very clear goal. According to him, it safeguards those attempting to provide life-saving supplies and reacts to the grave humanitarian situation on the ground with action by the Palestinian people who are suffering the most from the war. "We think that this resolution starts to obstruct life-saving aid, which has put over 500,000 people in Gaza at risk of starvation due to its denial," he said.