UN Security Council to vote on Gaza measure after US signals backing
- Draft Gaza compromise emerges in the UN Security Council after days of negotiations
- Resolution is intended to alleviate civilian suffering in war-torn Palestinian territory
The United Nations Security Council was poised on Friday to vote on a much-delayed resolution concerning the Israel-Gaza war after Washington signalled support following resistance to earlier draft proposals.
After days of delays, the latest draft version calls for “urgent steps to immediately allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and also for creating the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities”. It does not call for an immediate end to fighting.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters on Thursday evening that “if the resolution is put forward as is, then we can support it”.
She denied that the draft resolution had been watered down, saying it was “very strong” and “fully supported by the Arab group”.
Diplomatic wrangling at United Nations headquarters in Manhattan – causing the vote to be postponed several times this week – has come against the backdrop of deteriorating conditions in Gaza and a mounting death toll.