United States: The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses throughout the Gaza Strip.” The resolution called for allowing aid delivery and medical evacuations after four previous failed attempts to stop the war.
The resolution, introduced by Malta, further demanded for “corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days” to safeguard civilians, particularly children. It additionally asked for the unconditional release of captives held in Gaza.
The resolution was adopted by 12 votes in favour, zero against, and three abstentions, including Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The resolution noted fuel as among the items that must be allowed to be delivered “unhindered.”
It further urges the UN chief to give a report on its implementation at the next meeting of the Security Council concerning the Middle East.
Mr. Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, responded that the resolution would have “no meaning”, calling it “disconnected from reality”.
Mr. Erdan noted that Israel was acting in accordance with international law in Gaza, a claim that has been rejected by several experts on the subject.
“It is unfortunate that the council is still unable to condemn or even mention the massacre that Hamas carried out on October 7 and led to the war in Gaza,” the Israeli ambassador wrote on X.
“This is a disgrace. Hamas’s strategy is to deliberately deteriorate the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and increase the number of Palestinian casualties in order to activate the UN and the Security Council in an attempt to stop Israel,” Mr. Erdan added.