UN Security Council approves resolution to demand humanitarian pauses and corridors in Gaza

Israel rejects the decision, calls the decision "regrettable" and assures that the organization is "disconnected from reality."

The Palestinian representative asks the organization for measures to enforce the resolution, which he asserts is late

The United Nations Security Council gave the 'green light' this Wednesday to a resolution presented by Malta to demand humanitarian pauses and corridors in the Gaza Strip that allow aid to enter the Palestinian enclave.

Specifically, the resolution - which does not use the term 'ceasefire' or refer to Israel, although it does name Hamas - has been approved by 12 votes in favor, zero votes against and three abstentions: Russia, the United Kingdom United and the United States.

The resolution calls for these pauses to last a "sufficient number of days" to allow United Nations agencies and local organizations to provide "a sufficient and unhindered supply of essential goods and services," as well as the rescue of trapped civilians. under the rubble.

Likewise, it calls on the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Islamic Jihad to safely release all hostages, unconditionally and immediately, although it does not condemn the attacks by the Islamist group on October 7 or the attacks in response by Israel. against the Gaza Strip.

The text adopted by the Council "requires all parties to respect their obligations under international law, especially with regard to the protection of civilians, in particular children."

Furthermore, it also emphasizes that the parties refrain from depriving the population of the Palestinian enclave of humanitarian assistance under Humanitarian Law, which has a disproportionate impact on minors.

"The UN Security Council successfully adopted the Malta resolution on the conflict in the Middle East. Our commitment to peace remains unwavering," said Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela on the X social network.

The UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, has applauded that the focus of the resolution has been placed on children, especially given that in Gaza "almost half of the population is under 18 years of age."

"Children do not start armed conflicts and we must protect them. All parties to the conflict must respect their international obligations, even in times of war," he said in a statement sent by his office.

For its part, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has indicated that it rejects the resolution, considering that "there is no place for this type of measures while Hamas is holding hostages." Meanwhile, the Israeli representative to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, has called the decision "regrettable" and has assured that the organization is "disconnected from reality." "Hamas will not even read the resolution, much less abide by it," he stressed on the aforementioned social network.

On the other hand, the Palestinian representative to the UN, Riad Mansour, has stated that "the Security Council decision was supposed to have lost a ceasefire a long time ago." Likewise, he has pointed out that the organization "was convinced that there is no military solution", since "it is based on committing atrocities", and that "the Security Council was supposed to promote political solutions."

Likewise, he has questioned the body's measures in response to Israel's refusal to implement the resolution: "The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected this decision a few minutes ago and said that it will not implement it and will continue on its current path. What will the Council do? "Have you just made your decision, in light of what the Israeli Government has done?"

However, he has criticized that the text has not condemned the death of more than 11,000 Palestinians, including 5,000 minors, in Israeli bombings. "Nor does it condemn the indiscriminate attacks launched by Israel on hospitals and schools, nor the murder of UN employees, journalists, doctors and equipment. Nor the arbitrary detention of thousands of Palestinian men, women and children, nor has it called for the immediate release and unconditionally," he added.

Mansour has denounced that the resolution does not condemn "Israeli racist propaganda that represents an insult, claiming that the" selective denunciation amounts to a double standard and reflects disregard for the lives of Palestinians. "The bombings and raids must stop now, and humanitarian aid must come in now, not drop by drop just to affirm that the criminal siege has been lifted," he added.

The UN Security Council had not been able to reach an agreement until now, since there had been up to four votes with texts presented by different countries on the situation in the Gaza Strip.