The United Nations Security Council passed its first resolution since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The resolution called for immediate and extended humanitarian pauses in Gaza to address the escalating crisis faced by Palestinian civilians amid Israel's aerial and ground attacks. However, Israel swiftly rejected the resolution.

In the 15-member council, the vote stood at 12-0, with the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia abstaining. The U.S. and U.K. chose to abstain due to the resolution's failure to condemn Hamas' surprise cross-border attacks into Israel on October 7. Russia abstained because the resolution did not demand a humanitarian cease-fire, a stance opposed by both Israel and the United States.

The resolution aimed at facilitating humanitarian pauses faced criticism and varied responses, highlighting the complexities and differing perspectives on the Israel-Hamas conflict within the international community.  The adopted resolution emphasizes the need for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days to enable, consistent with international humanitarian law, the full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access for United Nations humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners,” as reported by CNN.

The resolution received a positive response from Human Rights Watch, which described it as a rare and powerful message directed toward Israel, Hamas, and other armed groups. Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, stated, “The UN Security Council just sent a rare and powerful message to Israel, Hamas, and other armed groups that compliance with international humanitarian law is non-negotiable. So far, there has been widespread disregard for civilians by all parties. That the US finally stopped paralyzing the council on Israel and Palestine so this resolution on the plight of children in Gaza could move forward should be a wake-up call to Israeli authorities that global concern, even among its allies, is strong.”

About a month ago, the United States vetoed a similar draft resolution at the UN Security Council (UNSC), which was proposed by Brazil and called for a humanitarian pause in Gaza. This draft specifically condemned Hamas' attacks on Israel, urged the release of hostages, and called on all parties to comply with international law. Following the recent vote on a new resolution, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield explained that the U.S. opted for more time for on-the-ground diplomacy to unfold.

The Security Council, despite being the UN's most powerful body, often encounters challenges due to the veto power held by its five permanent members. In October, the draft garnered approval from twelve members, with the UK and Russia abstaining, and the U.S. utilizing its veto, as reported by CNN. As tensions escalate and humanitarian concerns persist, the UN's humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, has called for an end to the "carnage" in Gaza.

“As the carnage in Gaza reaches new levels of horror every day, the world continues to watch in shock as hospitals come under fire, premature babies die, and an entire population is deprived of the basic means of survival,” said Martin Griffiths, the UN’s under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator. “This cannot be allowed to continue.”

Israel claims that Hamas used underground bunkers beneath Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, as a command center. However, both hospital officials and Hamas deny these allegations. The situation is intricate and ongoing scrutiny and international efforts are in progress to address the humanitarian crisis in the region, as reported by CNN.

Image source: ANI