According to the latest information from the Security Council, the revised programme indicates that an anticipated meeting due to take place at 5:00 PM to vote on a resolution from the UAE which has been under negotiation for days, has again been delayed.
Draft resolution, key points:
- Demands parties to the conflict “allow, facilitate and enable the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance” at scale, to the Palestinian population of Gaza.
- Calls for the “urgent suspension of hostilities” to allow safe and unhindered access.
- The resolution cites “deep concern at the dire and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation” in Gaza and its “grave impact” on civilians there.
- Reaffirms the Council’s “strong concern for the disproportionate effect” the conflict is having on women and children. It stresses the obligation to respect and protect humanitarian relief and medical staff.
- Takes note of the reopening of the Karem Abu Salem or Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel to speed up delivery of aid, and demands the parties allow the use of all land, sea and air routes to provide an increased flow of aid.
- Requests the UN chief sets up a monitoring mechanism with the necessary staff and equipment “to exclusively monitor all humanitarian relief consignments”, to speed up delivery. This will be independent of all parties to the conflict and be in effect for one year.
- Demands the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” providing for their medical needs while still captive and “firmly condemns” all violations of international humanitarian law including indiscriminate attacks against civilians “and all acts of terrorism.”
- Notes UN facilities are protected under humanitarian law and “rejects forced displacementof the civilian population”. It demands combatants ensure the safety and security of all UN and associated personnel.
- Reiterates the Council’s “unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution”, stressing the importance of unifying the West Bank and Gaza under the Palestinian Authority.
Mohamed Issa Abushahab, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates(UAE), started off by noting that as the end of 2023 is approaching, it has already been the deadliest year in the Occupied Palestinian Territory’s history.
“This should be a wakeup call that the current status quo cannot be allowed to continue, and this starts with the current situation in Gaza,” he said.
He recalled last week’s visit by many ambassadors, members of the Security Council, to the Rafah border crossing, noting that they witnessed “a humanitarian system at its breaking point.”
“They saw thousands of trucks and warehouses filled with aid from people and governments around the world, the physical expression of their solidarity with the people of Gaza,” he said.
“Meanwhile, just over the border, 2.2 million people remain trapped with nine out of every ten spending entire day without food. Gazans are experiencing unprecedented levels of starvation and thirst, while doctors lack even the most basic of medical supplies to treat the wounded and the growing threat of infection – what we need is access,” he added.
He noted that the resolution, scheduled for a vote today, aims to meet this need by demanding the use of all land, sea and air routes to allow aid to enter.
“Israel must stop blocking the entry of aid, and allow life-saving assistance into the Gaza Strip,” he added, noting the opening of the border crossing at Karam Abu Salem.
“We call on authorities to ensure its full opening, including to commercial cargo, so that aid can enter at scale,” the Ambassador said.
France’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Nathalie Estival-Broadhurst, said her country “will never recognize the illegal annexation” of the Palestinian Occupied Territories, nor the legalization of rogue settlements in the West Bank.
She strongly condemned the recent announcement of new settlement building and expulsion of Palestinian families, authorized by the Israeli Government.
Such decisions jeopardize the possibility of a two-State solution, she said. She added that an environment of “total impunity” in the West Bank was driving the spike in violence.
“We cannot accept the abuses that deprive Palestinians of their rights and their land”, she reiterated…We must urgently restore prospects for a political horizon to implement the two-State solution.
She stressed that France stands solidly by the people of Israel and condemned the brutal gender-based violence perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October.
“We call for a new immediate, lasting humanitarian truce, which must lead to a lasting ceasefire”, to obtain the release of all the hostages still held by Hamas, and to provide the population of Gaza with the aid they need.
She said a resumption of the political process is urgent.
“We must work seriously towards building a state for the Palestinians. And the Palestinian Authority has a key role to play in this process, in the West Bank as in Gaza, which should be part of this Palestinian state”, adding that “inertia is not a solution.”
