UNSC adopts resolution for 'humanitarian pauses' in Gaza
Israeli soldiers
Breaking its silence for the first time since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a resolution calling for 'humanitarian pauses' in the Gaza Strip.
The resolution was prepared by Malta and had 12 votes in favour when it was adopted. There were three abstentions: the US, UK and Russia.
The resolution "calls for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days" so that aid reaches civilians in the besieged territory.
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The UNSC has attempted to, but failed, before this to adopt a resolution over the Israel-Hamas war. Just last month, four drafts failed underlining divisions within the UN body over the ongoing conflict and larger Israel-Palestine issue. Russia and China have usually been on one side while the US is on the other.
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The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had already adopted a text last month that called for an "immediate humanitarian truce". However, resolutions adopted by the UNGA are non-binding. In UNGA, the United States and Israel had voted against the text but it got overwhelming support from nations across the world.
In UNSC this time, the 10 non-permanent members took the lead and the UN body started fresh talks on resolution. But negotiations soon got stuck over wordings to be used in order to call for a stop in fighting.
Read |Explained | How Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital got enmeshed in the Israel-Hamas war
The US opposed any usage of the word "ceasefire" reported AFP. Other words in the discussion were "truce" and "pause"
"I know we are all disappointed about the inaction of the Council in the past 40 days," China's UN ambassador Jun Zhang said Wednesday.
Also Read | Woman kidnapped by Hamas gave birth in captivity, says Israel PMO
The resolution mentions children in almost all paragraphs of the text. The resolution also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages currently held by Hamas and other militant groups.
"The Security Council members are united in wanting a voice," said Vanessa Frazier, Malta's UN envoy as quoted by AFP. She admitted that there were "nuances" when it came to positions held by different countries, but said that all 15 members have "the desire to save life and provide respite" to civilians.
(With inputs from agencies)