Egypt’s current Permanent Representative of Egypt to the U.N. Osama Abdekhalek, Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Vassily Nebenzia, Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad H. Mansour, and Chinese Ambassador to the U.N. Zhang Jun interact on the day of a meeting of Members of the United Nations Security Council for voting on a proposal to demand that Israel and Hamas allow aid access to the Gaza Strip via land, sea and air routes and set up U.N. monitoring of the humanitarian assistance delivered during a meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., December 19, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/ File Photo
A United Nations Security Council vote on a proposal to increase aid to the Gaza Strip has faced a one-day delay due to ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Egypt. The focus of the discussions revolves around a draft resolution, supported by Egypt and drafted by the United Arab Emirates, which aims to establish a U.N. mechanism in Gaza to monitor humanitarian relief consignments. The U.S. has expressed dissatisfaction with this provision, concerned that it could impede aid deliveries.
Although Egypt is not a Security Council member, its proximity to Gaza made it a crucial entry point for aid during the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. The resolution seeks to reduce Israel’s control over aid deliveries to Gaza, which currently undergo inspection when passing through the Rafah crossing from Egypt.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield requested a delay during a closed-door meeting, citing the need for additional time for diplomatic discussions with Egypt. She also raised concerns that the proposed aid monitoring mechanism might slow down relief efforts. The vote, initially scheduled for Monday and then postponed to Tuesday and Wednesday, is now set for Thursday following the latest delay.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized ongoing diplomatic efforts to address outstanding issues in the resolution. Washington aims to ensure that the resolution does not hinder humanitarian assistance delivery. The U.S. is cautious about a reference in the draft to a cessation of hostilities, as it opposes a ceasefire and instead supports temporary pauses in fighting to protect civilians.
The conflict, triggered by an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement in Gaza. The World Food Programme reports a dire humanitarian situation, with half of Gaza’s population facing starvation. The recent entry of an aid convoy directly from Jordan with 750 metric tonnes of food offers a glimmer of relief.
Despite diplomatic challenges, the UAE Ambassador to the U.N., Lana Nusseibeh, confirmed that the resolution would go to a vote. The U.N. General Assembly had earlier called for a humanitarian ceasefire, a move vetoed by the U.S. in the Security Council. A seven-day pause in hostilities ended on Dec. 1, with ongoing concerns about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
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