Frustration ensues as US delays vote for Gaza ceasefire and aid, again
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UNSC diplomats expresss frustration with the US repeated demands for postponement, saying it was doubtful that Washington would eventually allow the resolution to pass.
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Humanitarian aid convoy for the Gaza Strip is parked in Arish Egypt on October 16, 2023 (AP)
According to The New York Times (NYT), the United Nations Security Council postponed a highly anticipated vote on a resolution asking for a halt in the war on Gaza to deliver more aid to the besieged Strip.
According to officials, the postponement to Thursday was requested by the US to allegedly enable additional time for discussions.
To continue talks, the Council entered private consultations around noon on Wednesday when the vote was initially set. In this context, UNSC diplomats expressed frustration with the US repeated demands for postponement and said it was doubtful that Washington would eventually allow the resolution to pass.
The vote was then postponed until 10 am Eastern time on Thursday.
This comes as no surprise since informed sources in Geneva revealed to Al Mayadeen that Israeli officials have disclosed to some United Nations-affiliated organizations operating in Gaza that the war will continue for at least two more months in Gaza at the current intensity, and perhaps even longer.
These sources reported that talks were held in the past few days with Israeli leaders in the occupied territories regarding the possibility of a ceasefire or humanitarian truce to allow these organizations to provide life-saving humanitarian aid.
However, the request was responded to in the negative. The Israeli officials affirmed that they were adamant about persisting with the aggression campaign against Gaza and that they did not intend to implement a ceasefire.
At a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia slammed the US for being the sole state opposing a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
On December 9, the US vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, "diplomatically" shielding its client.
US, 'Israel' bidding time to manipulate resolution
A vote was set originally for Monday, and the US and "Israel" have repeatedly postponed in an attempt to manipulate the structure of the formula to the benefit of the Israeli occupation.
According to diplomats, a significant sticking point has been whether the UN should take over the supervision of supplies of food, water, gasoline, and other aid to Gaza from "Israel".
During a press conference in Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken dared to claim that the goal of the US was to push for a resolution that would not hinder the humanitarian assistance to Gaza or "make it more complicated."
The resolution, proposed by the United Aarab Emirates, demands a significant increase in humanitarian supplies to be delivered via planes and ships, in addition to trucks.
Sources close to the discussions told the NYT that "Israel" has been lobbying the US to reject placing the UN in charge of inspections since it would leave the occupation powerless and unable to manipulate the flow of aid into Gaza under the guise of "screening" them.
Diplomats said the UAE and Egypt have pushed for a United Nations inspection mechanism to simplify and speed up aid distribution since the current inspection of aid at "Kerem Shalom" an Israeli settlement bordering Gaza and Egypt makes increased aid extremely difficult.
