UN Security Council adopts resolution calling for urgent humanitarian pauses and corridors in Gaza

The UN Security Council approved a resolution on Wednesday calling for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip after four failed attempts to respond to the Israel-Hamas war.The vote was 12-0 with the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia abstaining.The final draft watered down language from a demand to a call for humanitarian pauses.

The UN Security Council approved a resolution on Wednesday calling for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip” after four failed attempts to respond to the Israel-Hamas war.

The vote was 12-0 with the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia abstaining.

The final draft watered down language from a “demand” to a “call” for humanitarian pauses. It also watered down a demand for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups.'' The resolution makes no mention of a cease-fire or Hamas' surprise October 7 attacks on Israel.

Russia proposed an amendment to the resolution before the vote that would have called for durable humanitarian pauses leading to a ceasefire. But it was rejected by a vote of 5-1 with nine abstentions because it failed to get the minimum nine “yes” votes.

But the resolution, sponsored by Malta, did bring the 15 members of the UN's most powerful body together in a first response to the ongoing war that is having catastrophic humanitarian consequences in Gaza.