U.N. votes to ramp up Gaza aid, demand release of hostages!

Описание: Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/eudebates The U.N. Security Council voted Friday to speed up the process of delivering aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza and demand that all the hostages held by Hamas be released immediately and without conditions. The U.S. abstained on the measure, allowing the resolution to pass, after days of negotiations on the terms.

The resolution was adopted by a vote of 13-0 with 2 abstensions, by the U.S. and Russia. Before the vote, Russia proposed an amendment that was vetoed by the U.S.

The U.N. Security Council resolution was changed on the morning of the vote to call for "urgent steps to immediately allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and also for creating the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities."

Although the final text does not make a renewed call for a pause in the fighting or demand a cease-fire — as the Arab group of nations at the U.N. wanted — it was a diplomatic breakthrough for the U.S. and United Arab Emirates negotiators that avoids a feared veto by Washington and creates a pathway to expedite food, water and fuel to Palestinian civilians.

The United States worked at the U.N., in Washington and around the world to negotiate compromises in the resolution drafted by the United Arab Emirates. In its final form, the resolution does not constrain Israel's ability to degrade the militant group Hamas' military arsenal, nor does it impede Israel's ability to search for Israeli, American and other nations' hostages who are still in captivity in Gaza.

Israeli officials have made it clear they are not interested in a two-state solution. This leaves Tel Aviv with one of 3 choices for a long-term settlement, all of which assume Israeli domination over the entire region between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Will it uphold the status quo of an apartheid state, move towards a 'Greater Israel', or finally accept calls for a one-state solution where all Israelis and Palestinians can live as full citizens with full and equal rights?

Even with war raging in Gaza, it is critical at this important juncture to enable parties to re-engage on the long-delayed political path to a two-State solution, the United Nations’ point man for Middle East peace told the Security Council today, as he urged Israelis, Palestinians, States in the region and the broader international community to work together towards that goal.

“The UN’s efforts to support this objective has already begun through active consultations in the region. Our work must continue,” said Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, as he presented the Secretary-General’s latest report on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016), through which the Council demanded the Israel halt all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis in ending the occupation and resolving the conflict in line with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and bilateral agreements in pursuit of a two-State solution, he said.

This year is ending as one of the deadliest in the history of the Middle East conflict, he said, adding: “The toll on civilians, including women and children, remains unbearable.” In Gaza, limited steps by Israel, including allowing entry of more fuel, food and cooking gas, are positive, but fall far short of what is needed to address the human catastrophe. Meanwhile, the West Bank continues to suffer mounting pressures from settlement activity, settler violence, a rapidly deteriorating economic situation and a Palestinian Authority struggling to face these challenges, he said.

“I strongly condemn the abhorrent armed attacks by Hamas and others in Israel” on 7 October, he said, adding that he is appalled by reports of sexual violence during the attacks, which must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. Expressing concern over wider regional spillover, he said that it is imperative that Lebanon not be dragged into a regional conflagration and that the parties return to a cessation of hostilities.

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