The UN Secretary General demands a ceasefire in Gaza
The UN Secretary General and most members of the Security Council on Friday called on the council to demand a permanent ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, saying the humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave could threaten world stability.
The resolution tabled by the United Arab Emirates set off a confrontation with the United States, which made it clear that it would once again block any attempts at a permanent ceasefire. “This would only sow the seeds for the next war,” said Robert A. Wood, representative of the United States on the Security Council.
A vote is scheduled for Friday at 5:30 p.m., and the United States, as one of the council’s five permanent members, is expected to use its veto to block the resolution.
During the two-month war between Israel and Hamas, there have been several attempts at the Security Council to adopt draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire in the conflict. The United States blocked these attempts, arguing that Israel had the right to defend itself.
Last month, however, the United States abstained from voting on a resolution calling for a humanitarian pause in the war and stepped up aid to Gaza. This was the only time Washington passed a resolution on the war. Russia and China vetoed a resolution tabled by the US because it did not call for a ceasefire.
Friday’s efforts drew support from Secretary-General António Guterres, who invoked a rarely used instrument in the UN Charter known as Article 99, which allows the Secretary-General to ask the Council to intervene in a case that threatens the stability and security of the UN. world.
“There is a high risk of the total collapse of the humanitarian aid system in Gaza, which would have devastating consequences,” Mr Guterres said in his address to the Council. “I fear the consequences could be devastating for the security of the entire region.”
On Wednesday, Mr Guterres invoked Article 99 for the first time in his seven-year term at the helm of the UN, arguing that it was necessary because of the immense suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and because related conflicts are flaring in the West. Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
Mohamed Abushahab, the UAE’s deputy ambassador to the UN, urged the Council to enforce a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds. “There is no defensible moral, political or military justification for the continuation of this carnage,” he said.
Resolutions adopted by the Security Council are legally binding and violations may result in other penalties, including sanctions. But Israel has indicated it would ignore such a resolution.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, told the council that such a move would only allow Hamas to regroup and plan more attacks on the Jewish state. He said Israel would “continue with its mission, the elimination of Hamas’ terror capability and the return of all hostages.”
Over the past two months, the Council has largely been deadlocked in passing a ceasefire resolution, with the US, Russia and China vetoing resolutions mainly due to differences over wording.
Mr. Wood reiterated the Biden administration’s position that Israel must do all it can to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law. But he stopped short of supporting the resolution.
“We do not support calls for an immediate ceasefire,” he said.