UN Security Council delays Israel-Gaza vote again, as death toll hits 20,000
- Members are wrangling over the resolution’s wording, with Israel – backed by the veto-wielding US – objecting to the use of the term ‘ceasefire’
- A newer version of the text seemingly seeks to salvage a compromise, calling for ‘the urgent suspension of hostilities’ to allow humanitarian access
A UN Security Council vote on a much-delayed resolution calling for a pause to the Israel-Gaza war was postponed again on Wednesday as members wrangled over wording while the death toll in the Palestinian territory continued climbing.
The debate at the United Nations’ New York headquarters came against a backdrop of deteriorating conditions in Gaza, with a senior UN official saying Israel’s steps to allow in aid were “far short” of mounting need.
“The Security Council has agreed to continue negotiations today to allow for additional time for diplomacy. And the presidency will reschedule the adoption for tomorrow [Thursday] morning,” said Ecuador’s Jose Javier De La Gasca Lopez-Dominguez, who holds the council’s rotating presidency.
Members of the council have been grappling for days to find common ground on the resolution, a vote on which was pushed back several times throughout Tuesday, after being postponed Monday.
Israel, backed by its ally the United States, a veto-wielding permanent Security Council member, has opposed the use of the term “ceasefire”.