UN Security Council Delays Vote on Gaza Resolution Yet Again

The US watered down the resolution so it doesn't call for a ceasefire

The UN Security Council again pushed back a vote on a Gaza resolution that was initially scheduled to be brought forward for a vote on Monday.

The vote is now scheduled for Friday and was delayed throughout the week due to the threat of a US veto. The US worked to water down the resolution and remove a call for a cessation of hostilities.

According to AFP, after negotiators worked on Thursday, the latest draft version of the resolution calls for “creating the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities” but doesn’t call for a ceasefire.

Another major sticking point about the resolution, which was put forward by the UAE, was a call to give the UN “exclusive” control of inspections of humanitarian aid before it enters Gaza, something the US and Israel rejected. According to The Washington Post, the UN also wanted more flexible language on this issue.

The Post report said the new draft circulated on Thursday satisfied at least some US concerns, enough that the US would abstain from voting and not veto the resolution. US officials have said they also wanted to include language condemning Hamas and supporting Israel’s right to “defend itself,” but it’s unclear if such wording was included.

The US has vetoed several resolutions calling for ceasefires at the Security Council to give political cover to the Israeli massacre of Palestinians. The US also voted against a ceasefire resolution at the UN General Assembly, which received support from 153 countries.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.