UN Security Council adopts compromise resolution Amid US abstention on Israel-Hamas conflict

A resolution that ends days of discussions behind closed doors and asks for humanitarian pauses between Israel and Hamas as well as additional relief to Gaza and the development of conditions that would allow for a lasting cessation to combat was agreed by the UN Security Council. In order to provide complete, quick, secure, and unfettered humanitarian access, the resolution demands for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days.” Russia and the United States chose not to use their vetoes as permanent members of the body to override the resolution, hence they refrained from voting.

UN Security Council session

Despite applauding the resolution, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield did not vote in support of it since it did not explicitly denounce Hamas. Rejecting Hamas would be wonderful, a senior US official said. We find it incomprehensible that the council is unable to provide a clear explanation of our current situation. But ultimately, it is the main goal of diplomacy. The US was keen not to vote against the resolution during the “marathon negotiations,” as the diplomat put it, having suffered international backlash for vetoing the previous Security Council resolution that demanded an instant ceasefire. The resolution’s phrasing, on the other hand, called for “urgent steps” to provide the foundation “for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.” “Ultimately, the goal of all parties is to establish circumstances that will lead to a long-term halt to hostilities,” the diplomat stated. 

Compromise resolution

The UN’s request to “establish a monitoring mechanism in the Gaza Strip with the necessary personnel and equipment, under the authority of the United Nations Secretary-General” was reportedly a key bone of contention over the text. The United States has contended that the idea of a UN-established monitoring system for aid into the Gaza Strip would be unwieldy and would impede the delivery of vital relief. 

The original plan to install a new surveillance system inside Gaza during the conflict was described by the senior US ambassador as “completely unworkable.” “In private, the UN informed us that they were unable to do this. Additionally, we determined that it wouldn’t take the place of any current aid distribution channels,” the diplomat stated. Thus, it would effectively be adding a completely duplicate system to the assistance that is already in place, which would likely cause chaos and slow things down.

US abstention

Behind closed doors, diplomats had been working to finish the resolution that the United Arab Emirates had prepared. According to a US official who was briefed on the conversations, the draft began by urging a “urgent cessation” of hostilities. The official described the US response as “a more passive formulation,” given that neither the US nor Israel are now in favor of a ceasefire. This phrase ultimately found its way into the resolution. 

The person went on, “Israel is aware of it and can live with it,” but maintained that the delays were really caused by arguments over the monitoring method rather than the phrase regarding the end of hostilities. Just prior to the vote, the Russian delegation presented an amendment to the council that would have restored the original phrase, “immediate cessation of hostilities,” but the US rejected it. “We are grateful for the US efforts to address the most problematic elements in the proposed resolution,” an Israeli official told CNN in response to the vote. They put in a lot of effort, and we are grateful for it.

Challenges and obstacles

After voting four times to postpone a vote on the resolution, Thomas-Greenfield declared late on Thursday that the US would back the legislation. Ultimately, she did not openly vote in support of the proposal; instead, she chose to abstain. The ambassador stated, “We do have several main opinions, including the belief that the council ought to be able to very plainly declare that Hamas is to blame for starting this crisis. The US ambassador stated, “This resolution does a couple of things that the past resolution did not do.” One is that all acts of terrorism are condemned. And even though it doesn’t mention Hamas by name, that clearly speaks to what it is accountable for. Spokesman for the US National Security Council John Kirby stated on Thursday that President Joe Biden had spoken about the resolution with members of his national security team as well as representatives of the US and the UN.

In conclusion, The United States has voted against a ceasefire resolution in the UN General Assembly and has previously vetoed measures in the UN Security Council. In a blow to the United States, which has consistently obstructed requests for a ceasefire in the Security Council, the larger United Nations General Assembly voted to demand an immediate ceasefire in the war-torn Gaza.