Security Council members in intense talks for resolution urging aid surge, halt in fighting

UNITED NATIONS — UN Security Council members are in intense negotiations on an Arab-sponsored resolution to spur desperately needed humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza during some kind of a halt in fighting, trying to avoid another veto by the United States.
US deputy ambassador Robert Wood tells reporters Tuesday morning that negotiations were still underway. Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh of the United Arab Emirates, the Arab representative on the 15-member council, says she hopes the council could vote on a resolution early Tuesday afternoon.
The council had scheduled a vote late Monday afternoon but it was postponed until today to try to get the US to support the resolution or abstain.
The US vetoed a Security Council resolution backed by almost all council members and dozens of other nations demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. The 193-member General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a similar resolution on December 12 by a vote of 153-10, with 23 abstentions.
NEW: @UAEMissionToUN has circulated updated draft resolution on #Gaza aid/monitoring which now "calls for the urgent suspension of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and for urgent steps towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities." Other changes… https://t.co/ryjpAvl6nG pic.twitter.com/2UFYhPz3r8
— Rami Ayari (@Raminho) December 19, 2023
In its first unified action on November 15 with the US abstaining, the Security Council adopted a resolution calling for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses” in fighting, unhindered aid deliveries to civilians and the unconditional release of all hostages.
The draft resolution on the table Monday morning called for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities,” but this language is expected to be watered down in a final draft, possibly to a “suspension” of hostilities or something weaker to get US support, diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations have been private.
Security Council resolutions are important because they are legally binding, but in practice, many parties choose to ignore the council’s requests for action. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they are a significant barometer of world opinion.