UN to vote on rival resolutions on Israel and Gaza

A general view during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly © Thomson Reuters

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council was due to vote on Monday on rival draft resolutions on Israel and Gaza that focus largely on the humanitarian situation, but it was unclear whether either stood a chance of being adopted.

The draft texts have been submitted by Russia and Brazil. A resolution needs at least nine of the 15 members’ votes to pass and no vetoes by Britain, China, France, Russia or the United States, the council’s five permanent members.

A general view during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

A general view during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly© Thomson Reuters

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council was due to vote on Monday on rival draft resolutions on Israel and Gaza that focus largely on the humanitarian situation, but it was unclear whether either stood a chance of being adopted.

The draft texts have been submitted by Russia and Brazil. A resolution needs at least nine of the 15 members’ votes to pass and no vetoes by Britain, China, France, Russia or the United States, the council’s five permanent members.

A view shows the remains of a Palestinian house destroyed in Israeli strikes in the central Gaza Strip October 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa/File Photo

A view shows the remains of a Palestinian house destroyed in Israeli strikes in the central Gaza Strip October 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa/File Photo© Thomson Reuters

The United States has traditionally shielded its ally Israel in any action by the Security Council. A spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations declined to comment when asked about the impending votes.

Russia’s draft calls for a humanitarian ceasefire, while the Brazilian draft calls for humanitarian pauses to allow aid access. Both condemn violence and hostilities against civilians and all acts of terrorism and call for the release of hostages.

Chinese Ambassador to the U.N. Zhang Jun and Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Vassily Nebenzia speak ahead of a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Chinese Ambassador to the U.N. Zhang Jun and Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Vassily Nebenzia speak ahead of a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly© Thomson Reuters

The Brazilian draft condemns the Palestinian militant Hamas for its attacks on Israel, while the Russian draft does not name Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

Without naming Israel, the Brazilian text also calls for the rescinding of the Israeli order for civilians and U.N. staff in northern Gaza Strip to relocate to southern Gaza.

“We are convinced that our draft better meets the humanitarian needs of the civilian population in Gaza and doesn’t contain political elements that could divide members of the UNSC and affect its role in the settlement of the crisis,” Russia’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas – which controls the Gaza Strip – after its fighters stormed Israeli towns, killed 1,300 people and seized hostages in the worst attack on civilians in Israel’s 75-year-old history.

Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, and Security Council President and Brazilian Ambassador Sergio Franca Danese greet ahead of a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, and Security Council President and Brazilian Ambassador Sergio Franca Danese greet ahead of a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly© Thomson Reuters

Israel is preparing for a ground offensive in Gaza while subjecting the strip to the most intense bombardment ever, putting the enclave under total siege. Gaza authorities say at least 2,750 people have been killed.

Security Council President and Brazilian Ambassador Sergio Franca Danese speaks to his delegation ahead of a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Security Council President and Brazilian Ambassador Sergio Franca Danese speaks to his delegation ahead of a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly© Thomson Reuters

Israeli forces kept up their bombardment of Gaza on Monday after diplomatic efforts to arrange a ceasefire to allow foreign passport holders to leave and aid to be brought into the besieged Palestinian enclave failed.

Source: Reurers/Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Susan Heavey and Howard Goller

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