UN Security Council backs ramping up Gaza aid, but no ceasefire

BBC News:

The UN Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a resolution urging more aid for the Gaza Strip, but falling short of a call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The vote followed days of negotiations to avoid a veto by the US, a permanent UNSC member and a key ally of Israel.

UN chief António Guterres said the “real problem” to delivering aid was Israel’s ongoing offensive.

The UN has warned Gaza is at risk of famine if the war continues.

Israel has launched a massive military campaign aimed at eliminating Hamas, following the 7 October attack in which militants killed at least 1,200 in southern Israel and took more than 240 hostage.

At least 20,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Friday’s resolution was introduced by the United Arab Emirates.

Minutes before the vote, Russia – one of the five permanent members of the council – introduced an amendment to revert to an earlier draft calling for an immediate ceasefire. It argued the text gave Israel freedom of movement to further clear the Gaza Strip.

The Russian amendment was defeated and both Russia and the US went on to abstain, while the other 13 members of the council backed the text that now calls for creating conditions “for a sustainable cessation of hostilities”.

The resolution said it aimed to introduce “extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip”.

It demanded that parties “allow, facilitate and enable the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip”.

The resolution calls for the appointment of coordinator to oversee a UN mechanism that will be set up with the goal of speeding up and streamlining the distribution of aid.

Washington initially feared that would take away Israel’s control of the screening process – but the resolution made clear it would be in consultation with all relevant parties.