UN Security Council Continues To Fight Over Words For An Israeli - Gaza Ceasefire Vote

December 20, 2023

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*Fires in Israel and the Gaza strip - 7 October 2023*
*Image by Pierre Markuse*

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The United Nations Security Council is in disarray on a resolution to pause the Israel-Hamas war with member-states arguing over words as the humanitarian situation spirals to a near collapse in Gaza.

Common ground on the resolution has barreled back and forth from ‘in reach’ and then ‘out of reach’ on Tuesday after being postponed for a vote over the last days.

The 15-member Security Council is expected to vote on Wednesday.

The fight over language is truly reduced to a choice of words.

The U.S., a permanent Security Council member, with the backing of Israel, has opposed the use of the term "ceasefire."

Richard Gowan, an International Crisis Group analyst, said that "everyone is basically stuck waiting to see what the U.S. will decide to do."

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"It looks like even U.S. diplomats do not know how this saga will end," he added.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby deflected and stated he did not want to "get ahead of a resolution that hasn't been voted on yet."

Although U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has thrown his weight behind a cease-fire, the Biden Administration has blocked the adoption of a Security Council resolution on the war.

The U.N. has called for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” but last week the U.N. General Assembly adopted the same non-binding resolution by 153 votes to 10, with 23 abstentions, out of 193 member states.

And, since then, Arab countries have lobbied for a new attempt at the Security Council to advance a cease-fire.

U.N. official Tor Wennesland said Tuesday that Israel's "limited" steps to allow aid into Gaza "are positive, but fall far short of what is needed to address the human catastrophe on the ground."

According to Hamas-led Gaza Ministry of Health, almost 20,000 Gaza deaths have occurred.

Author

Christine Dolan

Christine Dolan is a seasoned Investigative Journalist, television producer, author, and photographer. She is Co-Founder of American Conversations whose format focuses on in-depth analysis of critical issues about “the story behind the headlines.”