Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

UNSC vote on Gaza postponed again due to forced US amendments

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 22 Dec 2023 06:18
  • 1 Shares
5 Min Read

Al Mayadeen's correspondent says the Security Council may return to voting tomorrow, after accepting the amendments requested by the United States.

  • x
  • UNSC
    The empty Security Council Chamber is pictured at UN headquarters in New York City on December 20, 2023. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

The United Nations Security Council concluded closed-door consultations that lasted until Friday dawn without reaching a decision on adopting the UAE-sponsored resolution calling for a ceasefire and expediting the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. This marks the fourth time the UNSC has delayed a vote this week.

According to Al Mayadeen's correspondent in New York, despite the contradictory statements from the US representative, the Security Council concluded its work and will not vote on the resolution tonight. He pointed out that the Council may return to voting tomorrow, after accepting the amendments requested by the United States.

Following days of delays, the latest draft version seen by AFP calls for "urgent steps to immediately allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and also for creating the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities." It does not call for an immediate end to fighting.

The International Security Council has repeatedly postponed voting on a draft resolution on Gaza in recent days, at the request of the United States, which vetoed on December 8 a previous text calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, further providing its biggest ally, "Israel", with a diplomatic cover to continue committing massacres against the Palestinian people.

Washington's amendments to the Arab resolution on Gaza

Our correspondent reported on the US amendments to the Arab draft resolution on Gaza, which included Washington's rejection of the phrase "urgent suspension of fighting to allow the entry of humanitarian aid." The US called for replacing the phrase with "taking urgent steps to immediately allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and also for creating the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities."

Washington also rejected any reference to "Israel" as an "occupying force" due to the duties that this phrase entails under the United Nations Charter. Any such reference was removed from the blue-inked draft resolution.

The United States also refused any reference to the war in Gaza as a threat to peace and international security and a clause emphasizing the necessary compliance of all countries with Security Council resolutions as stipulated in Article 25 of the Charter.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent added that the US requested that the phrase "The Security Council decides that the parties must allow and facilitate the use of all... routes to and throughout the entire Gaza Strip, including border crossings... for the provision of humanitarian assistance," be replaced with "The Security Council calls on the parties... to do so."

Related News

Senate blames Secret Service failures for Trump assassination attempt

South Korea warns US chip tariffs threaten economy, global supply

This would alleviate the responsibility of the UNSC to take any action to ensure the compliance of concerned parties with the decision to ensure the passage of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. 

The United States requested and already obtained, according to our correspondent, the inclusion of a reference to the "importance of unifying the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority" in the draft resolution.

Similarly, Washington rejected including the phrase that mentions Gaza is an "integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories in 1967 and must become part of the Palestinian state." This phrase was replaced by "Gaza represents an integral part of the occupied territories in 1967, and the Security Council confirms its vision of a two-state solution."

After the meeting, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters that "if the resolution is put forward as is, then we can support it."

She denied that the draft resolution had been watered down, saying it was "very strong" and "fully supported by the Arab group."

"We have worked hard and diligently over the course of the past week with the Emiratis, with others, with Egypt, to come up with a resolution that we can support. And we do have that resolution now. We’re ready to vote on it," Thomas-Greenfield said in a briefing.

Earlier, The New York Times cited diplomats in the Security Council as saying that they feel "increasing frustration" about the repeated US requests to postpone voting on the resolution to end the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

According to the newspaper, "Israel" is pressuring the United States to reject assigning the United Nations to inspect aid shipments entering the Gaza Strip.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in New York mentioned that the United States refuses to form a UN supervisory and monitoring mechanism for the entry and distribution of aid.

This comes at a time when the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, ongoing for 77 days now, has left more than 20,000 martyrs and more than 52,000 wounded.

Read more: Ceasefire, IOF withdrawal prerequisite to prisoner exchange: Al-Hindi

  • United States
  • Gaza Strip
  • Palestine
  • Israeli aggression
  • Israel
  • US
  • Security Council
  • Israeli occupation
  • UN Security Council
  • UNSC
  • Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS