Arab Group in UNSC supports Algerian resolution for Gaza ceasefire

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Feb 2024 00:25
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The Arab Group in UNSC says the Council cannot turn a deaf ear to the calls of the international community and global public opinion, who are all demanding a ceasefire.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaks to delegates during a security council meeting at United Nations Headquarters, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

The Arab Group in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) considered on Monday that no excuse can justify the Council’s inaction toward what is happening in Gaza, noting the necessity of combining all efforts to stop the ongoing massacre in the Strip.

In a statement, the Group warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating due to the restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities, adding that it is unfortunate that the UNSC remains inactive and unable to condemn the daily atrocities committed by "Israel".

It underlined that the Security Council must take immediate action, as it cannot turn a deaf ear to the calls of the international community and global public opinion, who are all demanding a ceasefire.

With a ground Israeli invasion on the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip looming, the Arab Group noted that the serious threat facing a densely populated area where 1.4 million people are concentrated cannot be underestimated, alarming that a possible invasion would represent a critical turning point that may have irreparable consequences.

Accordingly, it is time for the Security Council, which is entrusted with the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, to act decisively and take a firm decision before it is too late, the Group stressed.

The statement affirmed that the draft resolution submitted by Algeria to the Security Council is consistent with the priorities of the Arab Group and the broader international community - namely, calling for a ceasefire, determining the necessary scope for humanitarian aid access, and opposing forced displacement.

The Group emphasized that this may help strengthen the parallel path brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, instead of exposing it to danger, affirming its firm support for the Algerian draft resolution and urging all UNSC members to adopt it.

The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the vote on the draft resolution will take place Tuesday at 10:00 local time, 17:00 al-Quds time.

US says will veto Algerian draft resolution

Algeria called for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Sunday to vote on a draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, the Algerian mission to the United Nations distributed a modified draft resolution to Security Council members, calling for "an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian reasons which must be respected by all parties."

The draft resolution rejects "the forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population," and urges the entry of humanitarian aid "fully, quickly, safely, and without hindrance, to the entire Gaza Strip." It also calls on "all parties to comply with international law."

US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, responded by saying that should the draft resolution presented by Algeria come up for a vote as drafted, it will not be adopted by Washington.

Vetoed by the US for the benefit of its biggest ally "Israel", previous draft resolutions presented to the Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza have failed.

The first time was on October 18, 2023, with a Brazil-drafted resolution, the second was on December 8, 2023, with a UAE-drafted resolution, and the third was on December 22, 2023, with a Russian-drafted resolution.

US proposes resolution for 'temporary ceasefire as soon as practicable'

Instead, the United States proposed a draft resolution for the United Nations Security Council's "support for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practicable," Reuters reported Sunday, after seeing the text.

The draft text "determines that under current circumstances a major ground offensive into Rafah would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement including potentially into neighboring countries."

It also reiterates the context of last week's conversation between President Joe Biden and Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The draft US resolution claims that Israeli plans to invade Rafah "would have serious implications for regional peace and security, and therefore underscores that such a major ground offensive should not proceed under current circumstances."

Although more than 29,000 Palestinians have been martyred in the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, the United States continues to support "Israel" diplomatically and militarily, despite its alleged efforts to "facilitate" pauses for the fighting and a prisoner exchange deal between the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Resistance factions.

While Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to persist with the war on Gaza until "destroying Hamas", the Palestinian Resistance has reiterated that it will negotiate a deal only if a permanent ceasefire agreement is achieved, refusing any temporary deals.