The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Wednesday calling for immediate and urgent days-long humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas war to allow desperately needed aid to reach civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The resolution put forth by Malta passed after weeks of division and inaction over the Israel-Hamas war. It stopped short of calling for a cease-fire, and it did not spell out the number of days for a humanitarian pause, instead calling for “a sufficient number of days” for “the full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access”.
The resolution is legally binding and calls for all parties to comply with international laws of conflict that demand that civilians, especially children, be protected. It also called for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas.
The resolution passed with 12 votes, with the remaining three members — the US, Britain and Russia — abstaining.
Four previous resolutions had failed. Diplomats said that Malta’s resolution was a compromise intended to achieve consensus on language focused tightly on humanitarian issues with an emphasis on the plight of children.
Before Wednesday’s vote, Russia asked for an amendment to the resolution that would demand a cease-fire. The majority of Security Council member states voted for a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire on October 26. The proposal was not adopted because it did not get the required nine votes. The US was the lone member that voted against a cease-fire.
New York Times News Service
