UNSC Delays Voting on Resolution Regarding Gaza for the Third Time, While the Death Toll Reaches 20 Thousand People

Discussion on resolutions regarding the Gaza crisis at UN DK. (Source: UN News)

JAKARTA - The vote at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) regarding the resolution regarding the Hamas conflict with Israel in Gaza was postponed for the third time, when the death toll of residents in the enclave reached 20,000.

The latest voting delay occurred because of last-minute negotiations between the United States and Egypt over a UN aid monitoring proposal, as Washington sought to avoid using its veto power, diplomats said, as reported by Reuters, December 21.

Originally, the vote was scheduled for Monday, but it continued to be postponed due to ongoing discussions between the parties.

Even though it is not a member of the council, Egypt, which borders Gaza, is the only entry point for humanitarian aid into the region during the war between Hamas and Israel which has been going on for more than two months.

Israel inspects all humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza via the Rafah crossing from Egypt. However, a Security Council resolution proposed by the United Arab Emirates and supported by Egypt, could weaken Israel's control.

The draft resolution asks the UN Secretary General to establish a UN mechanism in Gaza, to exclusively monitor all deliveries of humanitarian aid to Gaza, whether by land, sea or air from countries that are not parties to the conflict. Diplomats said Washington was not happy with the draft.

In a closed meeting on Wednesday, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield asked for a delay to allow for US diplomacy with Egypt. He also raised concerns that aid monitoring proposals could slow deliveries, diplomats said.

He told the council that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry would speak on Wednesday evening local time, diplomats said.

That then prompted the UNSC President for December, Ecuador's Ambassador to the UN Jose Javier De La Gasca to postpone the vote to Thursday.

"Countries that have equity in this data are conducting the highest level of diplomacy to reach agreements that will have an impact on the ground. Diplomacy takes time," said UAE Ambassador to the UN Lana Nusseibeh.

Regardless of what the diplomacy produces, he said: "It will go to a vote."

Meanwhile, the death toll of Palestinians due to Israeli attacks in the region, in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, has reached 20,000, according to Palestinian officials, quoted by Al Jazeera.

The Gaza Government Media Office on Wednesday reported that at least 8,000 children and 6,200 women were among those killed.

When asked about the growing casualty toll, US Secretary of State Blinken said it was "clear that the conflict will continue and needs to be moved to a lower intensity phase".

"We hope and want to see a shift to more targeted (Israeli) operations with smaller troop numbers that are really focused on dealing with the Hamas leadership, the tunnel network and some other important things," he said

"And when that happens, I think you will also see that the harm caused to civilians is also significantly reduced," he said.