United Nations, Dec 18: The UN Security Council is gearing up for a crucial vote, possibly on Monday, on a draft resolution calling for the facilitation of aid access to the war-torn Gaza Strip through various routes, diplomatic sources said.
The outcome of the draft “largely depends” on the final negotiations between the US, a key ally of Israel with veto power in the Council, and the United Arab Emirates, the author of the draft text, Xinhua news agency reported citing the sources as saying.
The draft resolution calls for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip” and demands the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages”.
For the draft to pass in the Security Council, it requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from any of the permanent members, namely the USt, France, China, Britain, and Russia.
UN officials and aid agencies have raised alarms about “a humanitarian crisis” in Gaza, including mass starvation and disease, as a vast majority of the region’s 2.3 million people have been displaced during the ongoing two-month conflict.
Earlier this month, the US vetoed a draft resolution at the Security Council demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Subsequently, the UN General Assembly called for a ceasefire last week, with a significant majority voting in favour.
The US and Israel have expressed opposition to a ceasefire, arguing it would predominantly “benefit Hamas”.
Instead, the US supports “temporary pauses in combat” to protect civilians and enable the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7 attack on Israel.
Meanwhile, in a latest development, the Palestinian Authority (PA) reached an agreement with the US to address the issue of Palestinian funds detained by Israel, a source said.
According to the official, the agreement outlines a process wherein the Israeli government will check the list of PA’s employees in the strip to ensure no Hamas members are included, reports Xinhua news agency. (IANS)
