Changes to UN Gaza resolution 'go too far' for some Security Council members

[Donkees]

Gabriel Elizondo
Reporting from UN headquarters in New York

These negotiations all happened behind closed doors, none of us were inside the room. But we have gotten an idea of some of the changes that were made to the draft resolution.

Three of them are quite significant and that’s, perhaps, why they were not able to come up with an agreement.

The changes are: Suspension of hostilities. According to the new wording, they are calling now for “creating the conditions” for the cessation of hostilities. So that’s a little watered down.

Also, the original draft called for a UN monitoring mechanism… monitoring all the aid coming into Gaza. That has been taken out. Now they are just calling for a senior coordinator to be appointed by the UN Secretary-General to oversee the aid coming in.

There was another part of the original draft resolution that condemned the indiscriminate attacks against civilians. That has been completely struck from a new draft we believe is being discussed now.

Diplomatic sources are telling us the Russian and Palestinian ambassadors are not happy with these changes at all, and now we are back to the drawing board essentially. They decided after, well over an hour, late this evening to basically call it a night and try to come back tomorrow to see if they can reach some sort of conclusion.

The US ambassador at the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, made some brief comments to reporters as she left the Security Council chambers and she basically said that this is not watered down and that they [the US] supports these new changes, without going into the details.

But, clearly, there are other members that are saying these changes go too far for what they are willing to vote for.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/22/israel-hamas-war-live-un-security-council-to-vote-on-gaza-resolution

[TheKentuckian]

1. Fuck Russia and terrorist supporting Arab ambassadors

[TexasDem69]

2. "Russian and Palestinian ambassadors"

Says a lot.

Have you thought about citing neutral sources instead of those so obviously pro-Hamas?

[LeftInTX]

10. Palestinians aren't even UN voting members. It's all about Russia.

[Donkees]

3. Here's some more on the latest coming out of the UN - including when the vote will actually happen.

Here’s some more on the latest coming out of the UN – including when the vote will actually happen.

Diplomatic sources are telling Agence France-Press that the UN security council has once again pushed back a vote for a much-delayed resolution on the Israel-Gaza war.

The postponement to Friday has come even as the United States, which has opposed a number of proposals during the resolution’s drafting, said it was ready to support it in its current form.

After days of delays, the latest draft version seen by AFP calls for “urgent steps to immediately allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and also for creating the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.”

It does not call for an immediate end to fighting, according to AFP.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/dec/21/israel-gaza-war-live-updates-hamas-leader-ismail-haniyeh-hostage-talks-egypt-palestine

[tritsofme]

4. If you find yourself nodding your head and agreeing with the Putin regime over President Biden

You might want to reevaluate your position.

[David__77]

6. The vast majority of countries voted for prior resolutions US opposed.

Canada too.

[tritsofme]

7. It is Putin who is leading opposition to the Biden backed resolution.

If folks want to stand with Putin, I suppose that is their choice.

[David__77]

8. I'm not aware such a resolution has been proposed.

There’s not even text of such. I suppose we will know more when there are votes.

[tritsofme]

11. It is the subject of this OP.

[Donkees]

5. Here's more on why the vote might have been delayed until Friday

4m ago
21.11 EST
Here’s more on why the vote might have been delayed until Friday.

The Reuters news agency says the vote was delayed after Russia (also a veto power in the UN security council) and some other council members complained during closed-door talks about the amendments made to appease the US, according to diplomats.

But Reuters says Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia declined to speak to reporters after the meeting.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/dec/21/israel-gaza-war-live-updates-hamas-leader-ismail-haniyeh-hostage-talks-egypt-palestine

[Donkees]

9. Let's take a closer look at what we know of the UN draft text...

Let’s take a closer look at what we know of the UN draft text.

A key sticking point for the US had been a proposal for UN secretary-general António Guterres to establish a monitoring mechanism in Gaza “to exclusively monitor all humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza provided through land, sea and air routes” from countries not party to the war, Reuters reports.

Instead the amended draft resolution asks Guterres to appoint a senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator to establish a UN mechanism for accelerating aid to Gaza through states that are not party to the conflict, according to Reuters.

The initial draft resolution had demanded that Israel and Hamas allow and facilitate “the use of all land, sea and air routes to and throughout the entire Gaza“ for aid deliveries. That was changed to “all available routes,” which some diplomats said allows Israel to retain control over access.

The US had also been wary of a reference in the draft resolution to a cessation of hostilities, according to diplomats.

The US and Israel oppose a ceasefire, believing it would only benefit Hamas. Washington instead supports pauses in fighting to protect civilians and free hostages taken by Hamas. The draft resolution now has blunted language to have the council call for “urgent steps to immediately allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and also for creating the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.”

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield has told reporters that it is “a resolution that we can support”, but she declined to specify if that meant the US would vote in favour or abstain, which would allow the resolution to be adopted.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/dec/21/israel-gaza-war-live-updates-hamas-leader-ismail-haniyeh-hostage-talks-egypt-palestine

[LeftInTX]

12. Russia will come across as not wanting to help Palestinians.

They should take it. Not going to do any harm. Won't be able to force the US to not veto a ceasefire resolution.

[The Magistrate]

13. Rendered Into Plain English, Sir

The objection is to a resolution the United States will not veto.

The point of all resolutions aimed at 'ceasefire and humanitarian aid' is to draw a veto from the United States, in hopes political hay may be made of it. The game collapses if any proposal acceptable to the United States is put to a vote.

[niyad]

14. Congratulations on your 30,000 post milestone.