The U.N. Security Council has failed again to agree on a resolution on the Israel-Hamas war. Despite more than two hours of closed-door discussions Monday, differences remained. The U.S. is calling for “humanitarian pauses” and many council members are demanding a “humanitarian cease-fire” to deliver desperately needed aid and prevent more civilian deaths in Gaza.
Quick Read
- U.N. Security Council Stalemate: The Council remains divided on the resolution regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- U.S. Proposal for “Humanitarian Pauses”: The U.S. suggested temporary halts for aid delivery, not fully aligned with calls for a “humanitarian cease-fire” from other members.
- Disagreements Prevent Consensus: U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood acknowledges differences within the council, hindering agreement on a resolution.
- Secretary-General’s Appeal: Antonio Guterres calls for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and stresses the obligation of all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law.
- Demand for Hostage Release: Guterres also calls for the unconditional release of hostages taken by Hamas during their incursion into Israel.
- Meeting Prompted by Crisis: China and the UAE convened the meeting in response to the humanitarian emergency in Gaza, where the death toll exceeds 10,000.
The Associated Press has the story:
UN Security Council fails to agree on resolution to halt war in Gaza
Newslooks- UNITED NATIONS (AP)
The U.N. Security Council has failed again to agree on a resolution on the Israel-Hamas war.
Despite more than two hours of closed-door discussions Monday, differences remained. The U.S. is calling for “humanitarian pauses” and many council members are demanding a “humanitarian cease-fire” to deliver desperately needed aid and prevent more civilian deaths in Gaza.
“We talked about humanitarian pauses and we’re interested in pursuing language on that score,” U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters after the meeting. “But there are disagreements within the council about whether that’s acceptable.”
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier Monday told reporters he wanted an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza and a halt to the “spiral of escalation” already taking place from the occupied West Bank, Lebanon and Syria to Iraq and Yemen.
Guterres said international humanitarian law, which demands protection of civilians and infrastructure essential for their lives, is clearly being violated and stressed that “no party to an armed conflict is above” these laws. He called for the immediate unconditional release of the hostages Hamas took from Israel to Gaza in its Oct. 7 attack.
China, which holds the Security Council presidency this month, and the United Arab Emirates, the Arab representative on the council, called Monday’s meeting because of the “crisis of humanity” in Gaza, where more than 10,000 people have been killed in less than a month.
