The United States called for a vote to be held Friday on a newly revised and tougher U.N. Security Council resolution declaring that “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is “imperative” to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than two million hungry Palestinians.
Quick Read
- U.S. Cease-Fire Resolution: The United States is pushing for a U.N. Security Council vote on a resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid.
- Resolution’s Language: The revised draft “determines” the necessity of an immediate cease-fire, a stronger stance than the previous version, which supported cease-fire efforts in the context of a hostage deal.
- International Response: While some Security Council members express support for an immediate cease-fire, questions arise regarding the resolution’s language and its effectiveness in compelling action.
- Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: WHO reports a dramatic rise in malnutrition among children under five in Gaza, highlighting the severe impact of food shortages caused by the conflict.
- Ongoing Negotiations: Israel’s Mossad chief is set to return to Qatar for further cease-fire talks with key mediators, including the CIA head, as part of international efforts to pause the hostilities and address humanitarian needs in Gaza.
The Associated Press has the story:
U.S. calls for a U.N. vote on a stronger Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution
Newslooks- UNITED NATIONS —
The United States called for a vote to be held Friday on a newly revised and tougher U.N. Security Council resolution declaring that “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is “imperative” to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than two million hungry Palestinians.
In the previous draft, the Security Council did not make such a declaration. Instead, it would have supported international efforts for a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.
The new draft obtained Thursday by The Associated Press “determines” — which is a council order — “the imperative of an immediate and sustained cease-fire,” with no direct link to the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7. But it would unequivocally support diplomatic efforts “to secure such a cease-fire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”
After the 15 Security Council members met behind closed doors Thursday afternoon to discuss Gaza, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said when asked if the U.S. draft will be adopted: “I am optimistic. That’s why it took us so long.”
Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky told reporters that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pressing for an immediate cease-fire, and if the resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire “we will, of course, support it.”
But he questioned the wording of the U.S. draft, asking, “What’s an imperative? I have an imperative to give you $100, but … it’s only an imperative, not $100.”
“So somebody’s fooling around, I think, (with the) international community,” Polyansky said. “We are not satisfied with anything that doesn’t call for immediate cease-fire. I think everybody is not satisfied with this. Even secretary Blinken is not satisfied.”
U.S. WANTS A SWIFT U.N. VOTE ON ITS NEW GAZA CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION
UNITED NATIONS – The United States is seeking a swift vote on a newly revised and tougher U.N. Security Council resolution demanding “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid deliveries for more than 2 million hungry Palestinians.
In the previous draft, the council would not have demanded a cease-fire. Instead, it would have supported international efforts for a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.
The earlier draft was not widely supported in the 15-member council where 13 members had voted in favor of an Arab-backed resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza that the U.S. vetoed on Feb. 20.
U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters who asked Thursday when a vote would take place, “We would like to do it as soon as possible … maybe before the end of the week.”
“We think it is a good text. Everyone should be able to get behind it,” Wood said. “And we’re going to continue to work to the last minute to make sure that we get as many votes as possible.”
Meanwhile, the 10 elected members of the Security Council have been drafting their own resolution which would demand an immediate humanitarian cease-fire for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan which began March 10 “respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.” It also demands “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”
HEAD OF W.H.O. SAYS 60% OF GAZA KIDS UNDER AGE 5 ARE MALNOURISHED, UP FROM 1% BEFORE THE WAR
GENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization said so little food has been allowed into Gaza that up to 60% of children under five are now malnourished, compared with fewer than 1% before the war began.
At a press briefing on Thursday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “virtually all households are already skipping meals.”
“The future of an entire generation is in serious peril,” he said, adding that children in Gaza need therapeutic food aimed at their needs.
Despite the supplies of this specialized food in the region, Tedros said it could not be allocated due to security problems. He welcomed the recent air and sea deliveries of aid, but said the only way to dramatically boost the delivery of food to Gaza was through land deliveries.
Tedros said WHO was also troubled by the latest siege of Shifa Hospital in Gaza, saying reports of health workers being arrested and delayed had added to security worries. A planned UN mission there was recently cancelled, he said.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative to the occupied Palestinian territory, said he had never seen so many severe trauma injuries or amputations involving children as he had during recent trips to Gaza. He said the process to evacuate patients requiring urgent medical care like cancer treatment and dialysis abroad was failing, even as countries including Egypt and members of the European Union had agreed to accept patients.
“We need to get them out,” he said. “These patients deserve better.”
HEAD OF ISRAEL’S MOSSAD SPY AGENCY WILL RETURN TO QATAR FOR CEASE-FIRE TALKS
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says the head of the Mossad spy agency will return to Qatar on Friday to meet with the head of the CIA and other key mediators as part of ongoing cease-fire talks.
The office said Thursday that Qatar’s prime minister and Egypt’s intelligence chief would also join the talks.
The announcement came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region pushing ahead with efforts to pause the war between Israel and Hamas, now in its sixth month. Blinken is expected in Israel on Friday.
Qatar, the U.S. and Egypt have been trying to broker a deal that would pause the fighting between Israel and Hamas for at least six weeks.
During that time, Hamas would release some of the more than 100 hostages it is holding in Gaza. Israel would release some of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners it is holding and it would allow more aid to enter the war-battered Gaza Strip.
