UN Security Council passes ceasefire resolution

©: Loey Felipe/U.N. Photo.

Written by Omar Daya,

On the 25th of March, the Security Council passed a ceasefire resolution proposed by the 10 non permanent members of the Council, namely Algeria, Japan, Ecuador and Switzerland. This resolution, voted by 14 out of 15 members with the United States having abstained, declared a temporary ceasefire for the last two weeks of Ramadan. This would allow the entry of humanitarian aid in exchange for the complete release of all hostages. The resolution has the aim to lead to an agreement on a permanent ceasefire after the end of Ramadan. Moreover, Hamas and Israel are both not expected to abide by this resolution. The Israeli government has even cancelled a delegation visit to Washington DC in response to the passing of this resolution.

This is the only one that was passed after several previous attempts at a ceasefire resolution failed with the penultimate one having been proposed by the US and vetoed by China and Russia. This resolution was said to not to have strongly opposed military intervention by Israel in Rafah and not to have imperatively called for an ‘immediate and sustained ceasefire’.

The passing of the resolution comes at a time when Israel is planning a land invasion of Rafah, in the south of Gaza, which is said would result in a catastrophic humanitarian disaster with more than 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering in the city. The US has on numerous times called against the invasion with Kamala Harris, the Vice President, warning of ‘consequences’ if Netenyahu goes through with it, stating that it would be a ‘huge mistake’ according to Al Jazeera. Nonetheless, Israeli officials have declared they will go through with the invasion whether they have the backing of the US or not. If they do they will now be in violation of the Security Council resolution although it is unclear whether states will choose to enforce said resolution.

Last Sunday it was announced that Israel had indefinitely blocked passage of UNRWA (the UN agency for Palestinian refugees) food convoys through the north of Gaza, where people are at the most severe threat of famine. On Monday Israeli officials announced they will halt all work with UNRWA on grounds that it “is part of the problem” and they “perpetuate the conflict”. This is after allegations that 12 people working in UNRWA were involved in the October 7 attacks and that 1200 of its total staff have links with Hamas. After these allegations several states have stopped funding the agency with the US, being its largest donor, passing a law banning funding until 2025. The Israeli declaration is set to significantly worsen the humanitarian disaster Gazans are facing with the agency being the “beating heart of the humanitarian response in Gaza” as Martin Griffiths, the UN humanitarian coordination office declared. UNRWA officials declared this is a “death sentence”

The genocide in Gaza is only worsening by the day with the siege of al-Shifa Hospital still ongoing and the al-Amal Hospital being forced out of service. The Palestinian Red Cross Society declared it was forced to evacuate the hospital and 27 staff members. 90 people are said to have been killed by Israel during a raid on al-Shifa hospital last week.

ACHRS highly commends the UNSC Resolution as a first step to stop the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, and condemns the ongoing attacks by Israeli forces as well as their ban on UNRWA aid. 

SOURCES:

Chao-Fong, Léonie, Martin Belam, Lili Bayer, Léonie Chao-Fong (now); Martin Belam, and Lili Bayer (earlier). ‘Israel-Gaza War: US Says It Will “Find Ways” to Warn Israel against Rafah Attack despite Cancellation of Visit – as It Happened’. The Guardian, 25 March 2024, sec. World news. https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/mar/25/israel-gaza-live-unrwa-aid-north-gaza-un-security-council-vote-ceasefire-middle-east-latest.

France-Presse, Agence. ‘Israel Will No Longer Approve Unrwa Food Aid to Northern Gaza, Agency Says’. The Guardian, 25 March 2024, sec. World news. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/24/israel-reportedly-blocking-un-food-aid-to-northern-gaza-despite-high-famine-risk.

France 24. ‘UN Security Council to Vote on New Gaza Ceasefire Resolution’, 25 March 2024. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240325-un-security-council-to-vote-on-new-gaza-ceasefire-resolution.

Harb, Ali. ‘“Moral Failure”: US House Approves Bill That Would Ban UNRWA Funding’. Al Jazeera. Accessed 26 March 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/22/moral-failure-us-house-approves-bill-that-would-ban-unrwa-funding.

Reuters. ‘Israel Will Stop Working with UNRWA in Gaza, Government Spokesperson Says’. 25 March 2024, sec. Middle East. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-will-stop-working-with-unrwa-gaza-government-spokesperson-says-2024-03-25/.

‘Russia and China Veto US Resolution Stating Imperative of “Immediate and Sustained Ceasefire” in Gaza | UN News’, 22 March 2024. https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147856.