diplomacy
Draft resolutions on the Middle East in the UN Security Council
Ahead of the expected ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, pressure on Israel is growing at the United Nations. Two countries are submitting papers for resolutions – one of them is Russia.
Brazil, which currently chairs the most powerful UN body, demands in its draft, in addition to access for humanitarian aid, among other things, that Israel reverse its request to evacuate the civilian population from the northern Gaza Strip. The paper thus follows the statements of the United Nations, which described the evacuation of the densely populated coastal area within 24 hours as impossible and warned of a humanitarian disaster.
The drafts increase pressure on Israel ahead of the expected large-scale ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. It was initially not clear whether the resolutions would be voted on in the Security Council. Acceptance of one of the texts is considered extremely unlikely, especially because the USA has always used its veto right to protect its ally Israel from unwelcome resolutions in the past.
A draft needs at least nine yes votes from the 15 members, and there can be no veto. In addition to the USA, Russia, China, France and Great Britain have veto rights. Last weekend, an emergency meeting of the committee ended without a unanimous stance from the council.