The United States has announced its readiness to support a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at increasing the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. After a week of negotiations and significant revisions, including the removal of a call for an “urgent suspension of hostilities,” the resolution is set to be voted on this Friday.
The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, confirmed the support for the amended resolution, stating that it will bring humanitarian assistance to those in need and support Egypt’s priority in establishing a mechanism for humanitarian aid.
However, the acceptance of the changes by other Security Council members, particularly Russia, remains uncertain. The vote has been postponed four times to allow UN missions to consult their respective capitals.
The draft of the amended resolution removes the call for an “urgent suspension of hostilities” and instead appeals for “urgent steps to immediately allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and also for creating the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.” Additionally, it calls for the appointment of a “senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator” responsible for facilitating, coordinating, monitoring, and verifying all humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza.
The US argued that the original wording, which gave the UN “exclusive control” of a humanitarian delivery mechanism, was inflexible and could hinder the delivery of emergency supplies. The revised resolution is seen as a way to ease international pressure on Israel, which has rejected deadlines for completing its offensive.
While the US ambassador maintains that the resolution is robust and fully supported by Arab states, analysts suggest that the changes may be difficult for Russia to accept. The language around creating conditions for a cessation of hostilities is described as “incredibly opaque,” and the coordinator appointment is labeled as “pure garble.”
As the vote on the amended resolution approaches, the international community will be watching closely to see how Russia and other Security Council members respond to the changes.