After delay, UN Security Council to vote today on Gaza ceasefire resolution

The UN Security Council is expected to vote today on an Arab-sponsored resolution calling for a halt to hostilities in Gaza, after delaying the vote Monday afternoon to avoid a second US veto.

The council said Monday’s 5 p.m. vote was pushed back until Tuesday morning, and diplomats said negotiations were taking place to get the United States, Israel’s closest ally, to abstain or vote “yes” on the resolution.

The draft resolution on the table Monday morning called for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities” in Gaza, the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” and to allow unhindered access to deliver humanitarian aid to the massive number of Gazan civilians in need of food, water and medicine.

But this language is expected to be watered down to a “suspension” of hostilities or similar language to get US support, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private.

Like the resolution vetoed by the US on October 9, the new draft text too does not explicitly name Hamas but does vaguely condemn “all indiscriminate attacks against civilians.”

The importance of a Security Council resolution is that it is legally binding, but in practice many parties choose to ignore the council’s requests for action. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they are a significant barometer of world opinion.

The US vetoed a Security Council resolution backed by almost all council members and dozens of other nations demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza on December 9.

The 193-member General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a similar resolution on Dec. 12 by a vote of 153-10, with 23 abstentions.