The UN Security Council resolution on Gaza, adopted Friday after several delays and weakened language, sparked criticism and dismay from humanitarian groups working in Gaza, who called the agreement “woefully insufficient” and “almost meaningless” for relieve the immense human suffering in the territory.
The compromise resolution, negotiated to avoid a U.S. veto, stopped short of calling for a ceasefire, recommending only that steps be taken “to create the conditions for a lasting cessation of hostilities”.
Humanitarian groups immediately responded with sharp criticism of the United States for not supporting calls to end the war, which Gaza authorities say has killed more than 20,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians. According to the United Nations, the war has displaced nearly 1.9 million people, more than 85 percent of the population, who face both starvation and the rampant spread of infectious diseases.
Doctors Without Borders, which includes doctors and other staff working in Gaza’s crumbling health system, said the resolution “falls woefully short” of what is needed.
“This resolution has been watered down to the point that its impact on the lives of civilians in Gaza will be virtually meaningless,” said the group’s U.S. executive director, Avril Benoît. in a report.
The Secretary General of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard, said in a statement that it was “shameful” that the United States had weakened the language of the resolution. While the resolution was necessary, she said, it was “woefully insufficient in the face of the ongoing carnage and massive destruction.”
Human Rights Watch said the United States had watered down the resolution and must ensure that Israel implements the humanitarian measures it calls for. The International Rescue Committee called its failure to demand an immediate and lasting ceasefire “unjustifiable”, and Oxfam’s Middle East regional director Sally Abi-Khalil called it “unjustifiable”. “incomprehensible and totally senseless”.
“This is a profound dereliction of duty by an organization created to uphold the United Nations Charter in order to maintain peace and protect lives,” Ms. Abi-Khalil said in a statement.
The United States vetoed a resolution calling for a ceasefire earlier in December, saying it agreed with Israel that halting the military offensive in Gaza would allow the armed wing of Hamas to regroup and launch attacks. Throughout intense negotiations at the Security Council this week, the United States stood with Israel, opposing a call for an “urgent suspension of hostilities.”
Ultimately, the resolution that passed – with Washington abstaining – called for “urgent and prolonged humanitarian pauses and corridors” across Gaza for a “sufficient number of days” to allow for increased shipments. help.
“We negotiated at length and tried to find language that addresses everyone’s concerns, but also addresses this challenge with a practical response,” said Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE ambassador.
This commitment pleased only those who demanded it in the United States and Israel.
Riyad H. Mansour, the Palestinian representative to the United Nations, lamented that it took 75 days for the resolution to be adopted. He said the document was a step in the right direction, but it fell short. “It must be implemented and must be accompanied by massive pressure for an immediate ceasefire. I repeat, immediate ceasefire,” he said.
Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian ambassador, accused the United States of delaying the vote until the language was watered down. “Ultimately, the wording put to the vote today was extremely neutered,” he said.
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the United States was disappointed and dismayed that the final resolution did not condemn the attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7, which killed 1,200 people in Israel and started the current war.
Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, echoed the sentiment. The fact that the Security Council has yet to condemn the October 7 attacks, he said, “reveals the lack of relevance of the UN to the war in Gaza.”
Israeli military chief spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari called on the international community to implement the resolution, which includes a demand for the immediate release of and access to all hostages held by Hamas to meet their medical needs.
In a statement, Hamas said the resolution was an “insufficient measure” to address the dire situation facing the people of Gaza. He criticized the United States for weakening the resolution’s language and said the Security Council had a duty to get Israel to provide sufficient aid to all parts of the Gaza Strip.
Ephrat Livni reports contributed.