KUALA LUMPUR – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has stopped short of passing a Russia-backed resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, amid a second raid on the Strip’s largest medical complex – Al-Shifa Hospital – in 24 hours.
Instead, the UNSC passed a resolution calling for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip” with a 12-0 vote, with the US, UK and Russia abstaining. Permanent members China and France backed the resolution.
The resolution also asked for the unconditional release of captives held in Gaza and listed fuel as among the items allowed to be delivered.
This comes after four failed attempts from the council to respond to the Israel-Hamas war since it started on October 7.
However, the resolution did not sit well with Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, who condemned the resolution saying it “disconnected from reality”, and his country was acting in accordance with international law.
US envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, also called out council members who have yet to condemn Hamas for the initial attack.
Yesterday UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese questioned Israel’s assertion of self-defence, saying it is not a standalone state but an armed group in a territory it occupies.
Meanwhile, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli forces again raided Al-Shifa after storming it at dawn yesterday, and sources said facial recognition cameras and electronic gates were installed at the hospital courtyard.
It also reported that the Israeli forces have strip-searched Palestinians in the medical complex and arrested a number of displaced people.
Hospital staffers have been prevented from burying the bodies that are piling up in the complex’s yards.
Since October 7, at least 11,320 in Palestine have been killed, including 4,650 children and 3,145 women, while 29,200 others were injured.
Some 3,600 people remain unaccounted for, including 1,755 children. A total of 198 medics, 22 civil defence personnel and 51 journalists were also killed.
According to Israel, it has a death toll of 1,200 while more than 200 people remain as captives. – November 16, 2023