Seeking an end to the conflict & humanitarian crisis

After days of wrangling to avert a threatened United States (US) veto, the United Nations (UN) Security Council on December 22 passed a resolution urging steps to allow "safe, unhindered, and expanded humanitarian access" to Gaza and "conditions for a sustainable cessation" of fighting. The resolution was toned down from earlier drafts that called for an immediate end to 11 weeks of war and removing Israeli control over aid deliveries, clearing the way for the vote in which the United States abstained.
The United States and Israel oppose a ceasefire, contending it would allow the Islamist militant group to regroup and rearm. Israel said on December 24 that 146 of its soldiers had been killed since it launched its ground incursion on October 20 in response to an unfortunate October 7 rampage into Israel by Gaza's ruling Hamas militants. Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip continued late into the night on 24.12.23, with reports of sustained air strikes and ground attacks.
In the meantime, in New York, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution urging more humanitarian aid for Gaza. However, the motion fell short of calling for an immediate ceasefire in the war. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution that aimed to introduce "extended humanitarian pauses and corridors" throughout Gaza. The vote followed days of negotiations to avoid a veto by Israel's key ally the US. The US and Russia abstained, while the 13 other members of the council -- including the UK, which had previously abstained on a similar resolution -- backed the text that now calls for creating conditions "for a sustainable cessation of hostilities".
The US now appears to have a new diplomatic objective in the Gaza War-- to convince Israel to scale back its military operations in the coming weeks. This is a crucial test of the Biden administration, and whether it succeeds could help determine the next phase of the war as well as the President's own political fortunes back home. So, January will be a crucial test of whether the administration can convince Israel to alter the dynamic of the war. It is pushing the Israelis to "de-intensify" military operations in Gaza and transition to more targeted tactics that produce fewer civilian casualties than the bombing-and artillery-driven campaign.
The Americans are contending with growing international isolation. Mr. Biden is facing growing domestic pressure to take a stronger line against Israel. In a New York Times public opinion survey in the fourth week of December only 33 per cent of registered American voters approved of the president's handling of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. A plurality, 44 per cent to 39 per cent said Israel should end its military campaign. The US Administration however appears not to want any suggestion of a ceasefire that would constrain Israel's ability to destroy Hamas's leadership and military capability.
Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry has reported in the meantime that more than 20,000 people have been killed-- mostly children and women and 54,000 injured in Gaza since October 7, when Hamas and other Palestinian groups attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages.
Total number of people killed in Gaza had already exceeded 20,000 when the Security Council adopted the latest key resolution on the Gaza crisis on December 22, 2023.
The Security Council adopted a resolution on the ongoing crisis in Gaza, with 13 votes in favour, and the US and Russia abstaining. The resolution, among others demands, includes immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip. In the resolution, the Security Council opening a new window reaffirmed the obligations of the parties to the conflict under international humanitarian law, especially regarding the protection of civilians and civilian objects, safety of humanitarian personnel, and the provision of humanitarian assistance.
The Council demanded that the parties "allow, facilitate and enable" the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip.
It also called for the "expeditious" establishment of a UN mechanism to accelerate aid consignments to Gaza through States that are not party to the conflict, to expedite, streamline and accelerate assistance while continuing to help ensure that aid reaches its civilian destination.
It would be correct to highlight now the evolving spiraling international dimensions pertaining to the Gaza conflict and the response from some important countries who are playing a vital role within this paradigm.
Egyptian Ambassador and Permanent Representative Osama Mahmoud Abdelkhalek Mahmoud welcomed the adoption of the resolution as "a step in the right direction" to address the humanitarian impact of the war and ensure that aid will be delivered unhindered through a UN supervised mechanism. The representative also thanked the Secretary-General for invoking Article 99 of the United Nations Charter, and also saluted symbolically the staff of the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees for their sacrifice on the ground. The PR also underlined that now that the Security Council has secured a resolution, UN agencies and bodies must implement it without delay by drawing up a comprehensive plan for a functioning mechanism in cooperation with the international community. He also stressed that Israel needs to agree on a cease-fire and asked the Security Council to act on a binding resolution calling for a comprehensive ceasefire. That is the will of the international community, he indicated, recalling the 153 votes in favour of the resolution adopted by the General Assembly on December 12. He also insisted on the importance of resuming the negotiations to establish a Palestinian state, as "this is the only path to ensure a comprehensive peace in the region".
A new ceasefire proposal has been put forward by Egypt in the last week of December. It has also been proposed that it needs to be implemented in three parts: (a) the first phase of the ceasefire would see a humanitarian pause of seven to ten days during which Hamas would release all civilian hostages in exchange for some Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails; (b) in the week-long second phase, Hamas would release all Israeli female soldiers in return for more prisoners and the exchange of corpses held since October 7 and (c) the third phase would see the release of the remaining hostages and a number of Palestinian prisoners and Israel withdrawing from the Gaza Strip and suspension of all aerial activities. It has also been proposed that indirect negotiations would be held in Egypt with Qatar and US participation. There is hope that the Egyptian initiative could lead to negotiations. Hamas says it is studying the proposal.
During the UN discussions Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine requested the Security Council to address the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. He also pointed out that the Arab League and Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) groups, with support of an overwhelming number of UN Member States had been mobilising for three objectives-- an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian assistance at scale, and no forced displacement.
Ambassador Nusseibeh of the United Arab Emirates also addressed the UN Security Council and observed that "We believe the resolution begins to unblock lifesaving aid whose denial has condemned half a million people in Gaza to famine," and also emphasised that the international community needs to share the burden that Egypt has been shouldering.
Russian Ambassador Nebenzia expressed regret that the Security Council did not find the courage to support at least the minimum call for an end to the violence in Gaza. He added that "this is a tragic moment for the Council, not a moment of triumph for multilateral diplomacy, but rather one of gross unprincipled blackmail and open scorn on the part of Washington for the suffering of Palestinians and the hopes of the global community." Ambassador Nebenzia also emphasised that the Security Council's clear demand for a full ceasefire remains an imperative, and that without it, the implementation of Council decisions in Gaza is simply impossible.
French Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative Nathalie Broadhurst Estival said that the resolution calls for urgent measures to be taken to create the conditions for a lasting cessation of hostilities. She also underscored the importance of international humanitarian law, and said that it must be applied in all circumstances, as well as guarantee complete protection and access for humanitarian and medical personnel.
Dai Bing, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of China said that Israel should stop its collective punishment of the population of Gaza and insisted that realisation of a cease fire remains the overriding goal.
Barbara Woodward, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom (UK) reiterated that Parties to the conflict have obligations. She said the UK supported the resolution and that it will streamline aid checks so that humanitarian response can be massively scaled up. It was also demanded that there should be immediate and unconditional release of hostages as well as for steps towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield reiterated in the Security Council that all hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally and that humanitarian groups must be able to access hostages, including for medical visits. There was, however, no support for a ceasefire.
One can only hope that with the beginning of 2024 we will witness the initiation of ceasefire to control the persistent reviling of human rights and requisite measures to assist emergence out of this humanitarian crisis. We also hope that eventually, sooner than later we will also witness the emergence of peace in this region through the creation and approval of an independent Palestine as part of the 'Two State "theory.
I am concluding this article by wishing my readers Season's Greetings and a Happy New Year.
Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador,
is an analyst specialised in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance.
[email protected]