Slovenian Ambassador Says UN DK's Patience About Gaza's Armistice Is Running Out

JAKARTA - The Slovenian ambassador to the United Nations, who this month became president of the Security Council, said the council's patience was running low and was likely to consider taking action if a ceasefire could not be immediately brokered between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

"There is growing anxiety in the council that they must move in one direction or another, whether there is a ceasefire or the council then reflect on what else we can do to realize the ceasefire," said Slovenian Ambassador to the United Nations Samuel Zbogar.

"I am quite sure that in September it will have to go in one direction or another, not because we want it, but because I think his patience has run out," he told reporters.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday questioned how the warring parties in Gaza could agree to a pause to allow polio vaccination for some 640,000 Palestinian children, but not a ceasefire.

"If parties can act to protect children from a deadly virus, of course they can and must act to protect children and all innocent people from the horror of war," said UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

The Security Council in June adopted Resolution 2735, which supports a three-stage plan set by US President Joe Biden, for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages detained by Hamas.

However, so far mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt and Qatar have not produced an agreement between Israel and Hamas.

When asked what action the council could take if a June resolution was not implemented immediately, Zbogar said: "There are many tools the council can use."

"But to get started, I think one thing to do is establish, we have to move on from (resolution) 2735 because over the past three months the council has been waiting for the implementation of the resolution," he said.

Russia and the United States last week had disagreements at the end of a Security Council meeting on Gaza over efforts to end the war.

Russia's Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy asked the US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood to explain any modifications Washington proposed to the ceasefire plans that would accommodate its ally, Israel.

"We have repeatedly demanded that we receive this information, because the resolution of 2735 has concrete parameters in it and we cannot go beyond that parameter," Polyanskiy said.

Russia itself abstained from voting to adopt the resolution.

"The issue here is its implementation. Its skeleton is there," Wood said in response.

"My recommendation to you and your government is: If you will make a positive contribution, give it, if not, then you have to be silent," he added.