The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, warned of a “total collapse” of public order in Gaza, pushing its residents to seek refuge in the direction of Egypt, calling for an immediate cessation of the fighting between Israel and Hamas, while the United States was quick to announce its rejection of any “displacement.” Forced” to the Palestinians, declaring its continued opposition to efforts being made to issue a resolution calling for a ceasefire.
After the Security Council was scheduled to vote at ten o’clock on Friday morning, East Coast time in the United States, negotiations led to the vote being postponed until the afternoon. Hoping to overcome the objections of the United States and Britain; The two countries that have veto power, along with France, Russia, and China, which support the draft resolution submitted by the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Arab Group. Diplomats from Western countries sought to postpone the vote until another day soon. Hoping to reach consensus on a decision that would be approved by all member states of the Council, or against which the right of veto would not be used, and would be approved as quickly as possible.
The postponement came in light of intense, low-profile negotiations conducted by the Arab and Islamic ministerial delegation in Washington, DC, with senior American officials, especially with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. The delegation is headed by the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, and the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri and the Jordanian Ayman Al-Safadi, participate in it.
Breaking point
Before the expected vote, the Security Council held a meeting, on Friday, in which it heard from Secretary-General António Guterres, who used, for the first time, Article 99 of the founding charter of the international organization, to warn that the war in Gaza “may lead to the exacerbation of existing threats to peace and security.” “Internationalists.”
Guterres told Council members that “a humanitarian nightmare is sweeping the people of Gaza,” adding that he used Article 99, which is his most powerful tool. “Because we have reached the breaking point.” He warned of “dire consequences” of the complete collapse of the humanitarian support system in Gaza, expecting that “this will lead to a complete collapse of public order, and increase pressure for mass exodus to Egypt.” He expressed his fear of “devastating consequences for the security of the entire region,” pointing to the extension of the war to the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. He explained that more than 130 international staff, many of them with their families, were killed during the past two months, saying that “this is the largest loss of life in the history of our organization.” Despite this, he stressed that “the United Nations is fully committed to remaining and providing services to the people of Gaza.” He stressed that “there is no safe place in Gaza.” Noting that “food is running out,” he warned of “a serious risk of famine.” Hamas called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of the hostages, adding that “the brutality committed by Hamas can never justify collective punishment of the Palestinian people.” He urged the Security Council to “spare no effort to press for an immediate ceasefire.” For humanitarian reasons and to protect civilians.”
Palestine and Israel
He was followed by the permanent Palestinian observer to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, who warned that the Israeli occupation “is planning ethnic cleansing in Gaza, taking away the property of the Palestinian people and forcibly displacing them,” stressing that “the war on Gaza aims to end the Palestinian issue and eliminate peace,” in addition to “Forcing people to leave,” after eliminating all aspects of life in the Strip. While he praised Guterres’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza, he considered that “rejecting the call for a ceasefire is a rejection of stopping genocide, and a ceasefire in Gaza is the only way to end Israel’s crimes.”
As for the Israeli Permanent Representative, Gilad Erdan, he criticized the calls for a ceasefire, considering that “regional security and stability cannot be achieved before eliminating Hamas.” He believed that “the ceasefire at the present time means the consolidation of Hamas’ rule in Gaza, and the continued suffering of everyone.”
Russia and China
The Russian deputy delegate, Dmitry Polyansky, stated that his country is working with China and the United Arab Emirates to achieve an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza, adding that the humanitarian truce is “insufficient,” and “it did not have any political importance.” He strongly criticized Israel and the support it receives from the United States, and said in Arabic that his country “warns of a new catastrophe,” adding that Russia is “ready to redouble its efforts” in order to achieve a two-state solution, in accordance with international resolutions and the Arab initiative of 2002.
He was followed by the Chinese delegate, Zhang Jun, who stressed that “only a ceasefire can avert the chaos that could occur in the region,” warning that “a broader crisis has become imminent,” so “only a ceasefire can avert the chaos that could occur in the region.” It creates the necessary conditions to revive the political prospects for a two-state solution,” considering that “the Council has no other choice but to move urgently and without any procrastination to achieve a ceasefire and protect civilians.” Any hesitation or excuse would be irresponsible.”
The American position
Alternate US delegate Robert Wood said, “The failure of this Council to condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7 is a serious moral failure,” reiterating that the United States “does not support calls for an immediate ceasefire.” He said: “There should be no permanent internal displacement or reduction of the territory of Gaza,” adding that his country “will not, under any circumstances, support the forced transfer of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank.”
Regarding the regional dimensions of the war, Wood expressed “concern about renewed acts of violence along the Blue Line” on the Lebanese-Israeli border, adding that “restoring calm there is extremely important, as is the full implementation of Security Council Resolution No. 1701.” He condemned the separate attacks launched by the Houthis against commercial ships in international waters south of the Red Sea, saying: “We know that Iran was involved in planning the Houthi operations.” He stressed that American officials “are engaged in extensive consultations with partners and allies to determine the appropriate next steps.”
France and Britain
The French delegate, Nicolas de Rivière, stressed that “in the face of this acute crisis, the Council must act,” reiterating France’s demand for “a new, immediate and permanent humanitarian truce that leads to a permanent ceasefire.” “The time has come to put an end to Hamas and other terrorist groups that have committed the worst atrocities,” he said, adding that Paris “is mobilizing its efforts to avoid the outbreak of a regional conflagration, and calls on all parties to exercise restraint, if the ongoing clashes along the Lebanese border between Lebanon and Israel constitute a source of grave concern.” ».
His British counterpart, Barbara Woodward, described what was happening as “dark days,” considering that Hamas was responsible for the current situation. While she reiterated Israel’s support for the right to self-defense, she added that Israel must take into account “the protection of civilians.”
Draft resolution
The United Arab Emirates had responded to Guterres’ request to prepare a draft resolution stating that the Security Council “demands an immediate ceasefire, for humanitarian reasons,” adding that it “reiterates its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, in particular With regard to the protection of civilians.” Demanding “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, in addition to ensuring humanitarian access” to them, he “requested the Secretary-General to report to the Council on an urgent and ongoing basis on the status of implementation of this resolution.”
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2023-12-08 21:47:14
