The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted its first resolution since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza, calling for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses” in the besieged enclave to address the catastrophic crisis for Palestinian civilians.
The resolution, introduced by Malta, also called for “corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days” to safeguard civilians, particularly children, ambassador Vanessa Frazier told the Council.
It additionally asked for the unconditional release of captives held in Gaza.
“Our vote today translates into real human lives,” said the ambassador of Malta Vanessa Frazier.
It was adopted by 12 votes in favor, zero against and three abstentions – Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The resolution made no mention of a ceasefire. It didn’t refer to the brutal Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Russia abstained because of its failure to demand a humanitarian cease-fire, which the Zionist entity and the United States oppose.
For their part, the US and UK abstained because the resolution didn’t mention Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.
“This madness must be brought to an end,” said Palestine’s Permanent Observer to the UN, Riyad Mansour, adding that: “It is time for peace.”
Meanwhile, Ambassador Zhang Jun of China, whose country holds the Council presidency for November, said, in his national capacity, that the Council should have adopted a more robust resolution earlier. Despite one-member blocking progress on consensus, he said the new resolution matters.
Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia said getting aid and humanitarian assistance into Gaza is essential, especially given the deteriorating situation on the ground, with dwindling fuel supplies and Israeli operations that are shelling schools and storming Al-Shifa Hospital.
Haniyeh also condemned the Israeli violation of the UN Resolutions as well as the international laws.
Source: Agencies
