ON October 16, a Russian resolution was put forth to the UN Security Council that would have called for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Palestine crisis.

If adopted, it would have strongly condemned all violence and hostilities on civilians and all acts of terrorism.  

It would also have called for the release of all hostages and unimpeded distribution of humanitarian assistance, including food, fuel and medical aid.

While the draft resolution received support from one other permanent council member – China – and three non-permanent members – Gabon, Mozambique and the United Arab Emirates – the delegations of France, Japan, the US and the UK voted against it. Six other council members abstained from voting.

Prior to thevoting, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, described the resolution as a “purely humanitarian text,” which had garnered the support of Arab Group members and the state of Palestine.  

Without a ceasefire, humanitarian efforts will not be possible, he said.

After the text was defeated, he said Western countries had stomped on the expectations of the entire world. 

The permanent observer for the State of Palestine, Riyad H. Mansour said killing more Palestinians will not make Israel more secure.  

Speaking for the Arab Group, Jordan’s delegate said the silence of the international community is dehumanising the Gazans. He said Israel’s prevention of humanitarian aid delivery is a violation of international law. He urged member states to condemn the killing of civilian Palestinians using the same set of standards it used for Israeli civilians.  

Per the advisory of the International Court of Justice, Israel does not have the right to defend itself within the occupied Palestinian territory, he said.

US ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield stated that on October 7, Hamas committed with the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust.

“Civilians should not suffer for these atrocities, and it is the council’s responsibility to address the crisis, unequivocally condemn Hamas and support Israel’s right to self-defence under the Charter of the UN,” she added.

UK ambassador Barbara Woodward said she could not support a document which fails to condemn Hamas terror attacks.

Chinese ambassador Zhang Jun condemned all acts that harm civilians and any violation of international law. He called for the immediate opening of relief corridors to prevent a more serious humanitarian disaster.

He said all parties should seek consensus, adding that the solution to the problem is an independent state of Palestine.

UAE ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh pointed out that long before Hamas’ unjustifiable attack on Israel on October 7, Gaza was already one of the most desperate places to live in.

All council members have rightly condemned the indiscriminate murder of innocent Israeli civilians and the taking of 199 hostages, she recalled.

Before the outbreak of conflict, 1.3 million Gazans required aid for basic survival, and today they are once again facing a ruinous war with nowhere safe to go.

“The international community must recognise that the call for the evacuation of more than one million people who have nowhere safe to go and no assistance for what it is – an unjustified demand, unmeetable in its nature.”

At a minimum, the council should be able to come together around the need to protect all civilians, the unconditional release of all hostages and the safe provision of humanitarian assistance, she continued. Access to fuel, food, water, medical aid and other basic necessities must be fully restored. 

A framework for rapid unimpeded and safe humanitarian access must be created for those who are working to risk their lives on the ground, she said, adding that the call for a ceasefires is essential for the realisation of all the above.

Her country voted in favour of the draft put forward by Russia because it responds to these specific humanitarian needs, she said.

“Palestinians and Israelis deserve not only to live, but to thrive side by side in their own independent, prosperous and secure states.”

Meanwhile, a day after an air strike on a northern Gaza hospital on October 17 that marked a sharp escalation in the Israel-Gaza crisis,Brazil put forth a resolution that would have called for humanitarian pauses to allow UN agencies and their partners full, safe and unhindered access to the territory.

If adopted, the resolution would have condemned all violence and hostilities against civilians and all acts of terrorism, and would have unequivocally rejected and condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting October 7.

But despite the condemnation of Hamas in the resolution, which omission was the reason why the Russian resolution was rejected, the council still failed to adopt the Brazilian resolution due to a veto by the US, a permanent member of the council.

Thus the war-mongering and cruel stance of the US is exhibited for the world to see. The draft resolution had the support of 12 council members, including two permanent members (China, France). Two other permanent members (UK, Russia) abstained.

Speaking after the vote, Brazil’s delegate said: In our view, the council has to take action and do so very quickly.”  While the text proposed was “robust and balanced”, “sadly, very sadly, the council was yet again unable to adopt a resolution”.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza cannot wait any longer. “Actually they have waited for far too long, to no avail,” he added. – October 27, 2023.

* Jamari Mohtar reads The Malaysian Insight.