UN Security Council Calls for Humanitarian Pause
On November 15, the United Nation's Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolution 2712 (2023) calling for extended humanitarian pauses and corridors through Gaza to facilitate the provision of essential goods and services. It also called for "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, especially children, and urged the parties to refrain from depriving the civilians in Gaza of life-saving services and humanitarian assistance."
The resolution passed by a vote of 12 in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions (Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States). The Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine emphasized that the Council should have called for a ceasefire a long time ago, stressing that millions of lives hang in the balance. Urging those present to stop the killing and forced displacements and allow humanitarian aid, he said, "These should not be words in a resolution, but a reality on the ground."
Prior to the resolution's adoption, the Russian Federation's delegate introduced an oral amendment which he described as the "lowest common denominator, lower than which the Council cannot allow itself to fall." He proposed an addition to paragraph three simply repeating the text of the General Assembly resolution: "Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory" (document A/ES-10/L.25), which was adopted on October 26 by an overwhelming majority of votes. He said that if this provision is not included in the text, it can leave an impression that the Council is "happy to make do exclusively with Israel's provision of humanitarian pauses at its discretion." Voting in favour of the amendment were Brazil, China, Mozambique, Russian Federation and the United Arab Emirates. The United States voted against and nine countries abstained: Albania, Gabon, Ghana, Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It was thus defeated since a vote requires at least nine countries in favour.
The enforcement of the resolution is problematic. Israel continues to enforce starvation conditions on the people of Gaza because it controls the flow of aide. The amounts of fuel it permits to enter Gaza are miserable compared to the need for emergency aid of hospitals and clinics as well as water and sewage treatment. It has spoken of using the "humanitarian pauses" to permit Palestinians to evacuate their homes without being bombed, in preparation for their homes being bombed. The urgent need is to end the blocks posed by the U.S. and former colonial powers as well as Canada to making Israel accountable. Meanwhile, the worldwide protests continue.
This article was published in
Volume 53
Number 22 - November 17, 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/MS53223.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca