UNITED NATIONS: After a week of closed-door negotiations at the 15-member UN Security Council, ambassadors are still deliberating over a draft resolution proposed by the United Arab Emirates. The resolution calls for an “urgent suspension” of the conflict in the Gaza Strip to facilitate the safe and unhindered delivery of aid to civilians in need.

The previous draft, vetoed by the US on Dec. 8, prompted a swift response in the UN General Assembly. Four days later, member states voted overwhelmingly in favour of a non-binding resolution, urging an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

Despite the emergency special session of the assembly resuming and adjourning on Wednesday, a consensus on the draft resolution in the Security Council remains elusive.

The Council has been working to formulate language that avoids another US veto, changing the call from a “cessation of hostilities” to a “suspension” of fighting, with a focus on increasing access for lifesaving aid.

The US, insisting on condemning Hamas for the October 7 raid, faces opposition. Critics of Israel’s offensive argue that any resolution condemning Hamas must also address the Israeli occupation and the civilian casualties resulting from subsequent military actions.

Diplomats negotiating the draft resolution are also grappling with the establishment of a UN monitoring mechanism. This mechanism would independently assess the effectiveness of aid delivery on a larger scale, free from influence by Israeli or Hamas authorities in Gaza.

The deliberations continue as the international community seeks a diplomatic solution to address the humanitarian crisis in the region.

US President Joe Biden, while urging Israel to distinguish between Hamas and Palestinian civilians, remains hesitant to support moves in the Council to end the fighting.

The US hesitancy, evident in the postponed vote for the third time, potentially serves as a rebuke to Israel’s ongoing military campaign. Key US objections include the “cessation of hostilities” language and the call for the UN to “establish a monitoring mechanism in the Gaza Strip.”

Initially, the UAE introduced a resolution urging an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities” in Gaza. However, the United States made it clear it could not support the resolution, prompting more than 100 other nations to rally behind the move. The US urged the UAE to soften the text, resulting in the Council postponing the vote to avoid a potential US veto.

The draft resolution also calls for the release of hostages and addresses the medical needs of those held. It advocates for a future two-state solution, unifying Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, expressing deep concern for the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Highlighting the urgency, the resolution specifies the inadequate access to essential services for Gaza’s civilian population, including food, water, sanitation, electricity, telecommunications, and medical services. It calls on Israel to promptly implement the opening of the Kerem Shalom Border crossing for direct delivery of humanitarian aid.

Israel is refusing to accept most of these demands. Efforts to garner American support involve tweaking the language to secure at least an abstention, given that a US veto as a permanent UNSC member would thwart the resolution.

In the Middle East, Egypt and Qatar, acting as intermediaries between Israel and Hamas, play pivotal roles in behind-the-scenes negotiations.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2023