The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Monday demanding an immediate Gaza ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and “the urgent need to expand the flow” of aid into Gaza. With 14 votes in favour, the United States remained in full support of genocide by abstaining.
By Ugo Akpan
After a failed attempt to push through a dubious resolution drafted by the United States which fell short of calling for a ceasefire, and which included phrasing tying a ceasefire to the release of hostages, the UNSC finally adopted a resolution tabled by its 10 non-permanent members (E-10) demanding a ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan, by a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with one abstention from the United States. Resolution 2728 also separately calls for the immediate release of hostages and for ensuring humanitarian access to Gaza. Unfortunately, the Council rejected a Russia-proposed amendment that would have called for a permanent ceasefire.
The representative of Yemen Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, on behalf of the Arab Group, said they valued the votes of the 14 States supporting the resolution.
He said the resolution must be considered as a first step leading to a binding resolution on a permanent ceasefire. The Arab Group also reaffirmed that the efforts to reach an agreement on a ceasefire do not go against the call for freeing all hostages. He said the group sought immediate compliance with the resolution and categorically rejected the double standard that has prolonged the conflict as Israeli occupation forces continue with their genocidal war, targeting women and children and even adopting a policy of starvation. He called on the Council to impose strict sanctions on Israeli settlers who are inciting violence against Palestinians, including in Jerusalem. He emphasized that the Arab Group would continue efforts towards an immediate ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid, an end to the forced displacement of Gazans and greater international protection for Palestinians. He reiterated that Israel must be held accountable for its crimes, and that it is also time that the international community accept the State of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.
Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer for the observer State of Palestine, noted that it had taken six months, with more than 100,000 Palestinians killed and maimed, to finally demand an immediate ceasefire. “The Palestinians in Gaza have shouted, cried, cursed and prayed, defying the odds time and time again. Now, they live with famine, with many buried under the rubble of their own houses…. Their ordeal must come to an end, and it must come to an immediate end now.”, Mansour told the Security Council.
Mansour’s response underlines how the rule of international law is being eroded by Israel and its main sponsors, The United States and the U.K. Instead of implementing a mandatory order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ, Order of 26 January 2024), Israel has doubled down on its actions. Israel has also continued its incitement against the UN, attacking the UN chief and doubling down on its smear campaign against the UN relief agency, UNRWA, despite failing to provide any proof of its allegations.
Mr. Nebenzia, Russian Ambassador and Permanent Representative, said that his country voted in favour of the resolution as it called for an immediate ceasefire, “even if it is limited to the month of Ramadan”. Unfortunately, what happens after the Ramadan ceasefire ends remains unclear since the word ‘lasting’ could be interpreted in various ways,” he said. “Those who are providing cover for Israel still want to give it a free hand,” he added, expressing hope that the wording contained in the resolution “will be used in the interests of peace rather than advancing the inhumane Israeli operation against the Palestinians”. The ambassador said that the word “permanent” could be more precise, voicing his delegation’s “disappointment” that Russia’s proposal “did not make it through”. “Nevertheless, we believe it is fundamentally important to vote in favour of peace,” he said, urging the Security Council to continue to work on achieving a permanent ceasefire.
Zhang Jun, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China to the UN, thanked the E-10 Council members for their efforts on the draft. Noting his country’s negative vote on the US-led draft resolution the previous Friday, he stated that a comparison of the two drafts showed the differences. “The current draft is unequivocal and correct in its direction, demanding an immediate ceasefire, while the previous one was evasive and ambiguous,” he said, adding that the present resolution also reflected the general expectations of the international community and enjoyed the collective support of Arab nations. He said China had forced the US to realise it could not continue obstructing the Council. “For the lives that have already perished, the Council resolution today comes too late,” he said, but for those still living in the Strip, the resolution represents “long awaited hope”. The ambassador called for all harm to civilians must cease immediately and an end to the offensive.
There was an applause accompanying the passing of the resolution. This highlights the pariah status of the United States as it goes out of its way to aid Israel in its genocide of the Palestinian people.