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
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