Israel-Gaza war: UN chief accuses Israeli forces of creating obstacles for aid after Security Council vote
20,000 Palestinians have been killed as the death toll reaches a new grim milestone
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Your support makes all the difference.The head of the United Nations has accused Israel of creating “massive obstacles” to aid distribution within Gaza after the UN Security Council has called for more humanitarian assistance within the battered enclave.
António Guterres took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his concerns about the conduct of Israeli forces which he says is escalating the humanitarian crisis.
He said: “The way Israel is conducting this offensive is creating massive obstacles to the distribution of humanitarian aid inside Gaza.
“An effective aid operation in Gaza requires security; staff who can work in safety; logistical capacity; and the resumption of commercial activity. “
It comes as the United Nations Security Council voted in favour of boosting humanitarian to the Gaza Strip and called for urgent steps “to create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities” on Friday.
Although the US did ultimately abstain, the 15-member council was able to adopt the resolution drafted by the United Arab Emirates as 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.
Palestinian Authority says UN resolution is ‘step in right direction'
The Palestinian Authority voiced measured approval on Friday for the recent UN Security Council resolution regarding the Israel-Hamas war.
The governing body, which does not control the Gaza Strip, called the resolution a “a step in the right direction” on Friday.
“It must be implemented and must be accompanied by massive pressure for an immediate ceasefire. I repeat, immediate ceasefire,” PA ambassador Riyad Mansour said at UN headquarters on Friday.
Tracking US votes at the UN so far
As Israel’s key ally and a permanent member of the UN Security, the US has a large role in determining the future course of the Israel-Hamas war, especially at the United Nations.
So far, America has sided with Israel and witheld support from resolutions calling for a ceasefire and affirming the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
On 8 December, the US vetoed a resolution that demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
The following week, the US was one of just 10 votes against a broader UN general assembly resolution calling for a ceasefire that passed with 153 nations in support.
Then, on Tuesday, the US was among four nations to oppose a another general assembly resolution affirming the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, despite President Biden publically expressing his support for the idea earlier this year.
Finaly, that brings us to today, when the US abstained from a Security Council resolution that called for increase aid to Gaza.
UN Security Council approves Gaza aid but rejects ceasefire
United States abstains from voting after week of delays from negotiations on language
Cornel West slams Biden administration over UN resolution
Academic and outsider US presidential candidate Cornel West was sharply critical on Friday of the UN Security Council resolution on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
In a statement on X, he accused the Biden administration of having “watered down” original calls for a ceasefire, setting the stage for “further war crimes and genocidal acts by the State of Israel.
“I reject this resolution and its intentional use of semantics to beguile the global community,” he added. “This is not diplomacy, it’s complicity and a green light for Israel to continue their campaign of slaughter and moral bankruptcy.”
Cameron calls UN resolution ‘good news'
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron celebrated the passage of the UN resolution, saying in a statement: “It is good news that the UN has come together to back a resolution to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
“This resolution repeats so many of the points we have been making: the importance of complying with international humanitarian law. The need to reduce civilian casualties and it also backs a two-state solution that would be the best long-term guarantee of security and stability for both Israel and the Palestinian people,” he added.
Problems for UN aid efforts lie with Israel, UN chief says
Following the vote that confirmed the adoption of a UN resolution urging for more humanitarian aid in Gaza, the UN chief the “real problem” for UN aid efforts has been Israel’s offensive.
“A humanitarian ceasefire is the only way to begin to meet the desperate needs of people in Gaza and end their ongoing nightmare,” Antonio Guterres said.
He added that Israel’s offensive has caused “massive obstacles” in aid efforts.
Starmer welcomes UN vote and calls for ‘sustained’ ceasefire
Following the adoption of a UN resolution to boost humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for work towards a sustained ceasefire.
“I welcome today’s vote at the United Nations Security Council,” he said.
“The horrors of recent months have been intolerable. This resolution describes how we must work for a sustained ceasefire.”
He added: “Hamas must release all the remaining hostages, end all attacks on Israel and have no role in the future governance of Gaza.
“Israel must agree to end its bombing campaign, allow a humanitarian surge into Gaza, and end settler violence and displacement in the West Bank.”
Israel UN ambassador criticises resolution
Israel‘s Ambassador to the United Nations criticised the Security Council for its response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack following a Friday vote to boost humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“The UN’s focus only on aid mechanisms to Gaza is unnecessary and disconnected from reality - Israel is already allowing aid deliveries at the required scale,” said Gilad Erdan. “The UN should have focused on the humanitarian crisis of the hostages.”
Erdan also thanked the United States for its strong support of Israel during the negotiations on the resolution, which he said maintained Israel‘s security authority to inspect aid entering Gaza.
Watch: UN Security Council approves aid for Gaza
The United Nations Security Council has approved further access to humanitarian aid for Gaza by adopting a revised resolution on Friday.
Watch here:
David Cameron welcomes UN resolution
David Cameron has welcomed the adoption of the UN resolution to bring more humanitarian aid into the beseiged Gaza strip.
“It is good news that the UN has come together to back a resolution to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza,” the UK Foreign Secretary said:.
“The UK is doing everything it can to get more aid in, as I saw when I visited Al Arish in Egypt, near the border with Gaza, this week.
“People across Gaza urgently need food, medicine and shelter. We have consistently argued for more aid and called on Israel to open more border crossings.”
He added that the resolution demands the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and crucially calls for steps towards a sustainable ceasefire.
“As well as the need for expanded humanitarian access, the UN resolution today demands the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. This is vital.
Was the resolution watered down?
After many delays, the UN Security Council adopted a watered-down resolution calling for immediately speeding up aid deliveries to desperate civilians in Gaza on Friday.
However, the resolution was without the original call for an “urgent suspension of hostilities” between Israel and Hamas.
The original draft was initially scheduled for Monday but was delayed every day this week to prevent the US from abstaining from the vote.
The revised text was negotiated during a week and a half of high-level diplomacy by the United States, the United Arab Emirates on behalf of Arab nations and others.
Rather than watered down, US ambassador Lina Thomas-Greenfield described the resolution as “strong” and said it “is fully supported by the Arab group that provides them what they feel is needed to get humanitarian assistance on the ground.” But it was stripped of its key provision with teeth — a call for “the urgent suspension of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and for urgent steps towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities.” Instead, it calls “for urgent steps to immediately allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and also for creating the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.”
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