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OPINION MARCH 22, 2024 | The Indian Eye 14

Though the resolution was not bind-
ing, it carried political weight as the
majority of the members of the UN
supported it. It also revealed that at
the UN, the US and Israel were in a
minority. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli
Cohen called the resolution “despi-
cable” and stated that Israel intends
to eliminate Hamas.
Malta Proposed Resolution 2712
(2023): Malta’s resolution was adopt-
ed by the UNSC on November 16,
2023, after a series of negotiations
among the member states. The res-
olution was brought to address the
“dire situation of children trapped
and held hostages” in the Gaza War.
It not only urged for urgent and ex-
tended “humanitarian pauses” and
corridors throughout the Gaza Strip,
but it also demanded the immediate
and unconditional release of all hos-
tages held by Hamas. However, the
resolution neither demanded Israel
stop killing civilians nor did it con-
demn its indiscriminate bombings The war in Gaza has continued, in fact expanded as Israel continued to carry out air strikes in northern and southern Gaza (File photo)
and besieging of Gaza. The 12 mem-
bers of the UNSC voted in favor of on several issues, such as “Israel’s Hamas for not releasing all the wom-
the resolution. The resolution did The resolution created the new right to self-defense,” “condemning en and children. Hamas blamed Isra-
not condemn the Hamas attacks, ow- role of Senior Coordinator for Hamas for the terror attacks,” and el for neither halting the attacks nor
ing to which the US and the UK ab- “permanent ceasefire.” The reso- releasing the Palestinian prisoners.
stained from the resolution. On the Humanitarian Assistance and lutions exposed how the UNSC is
contrary, Russia abstained from the Reconstruction in Gaza, and Sig- deeply divided and how it is ineffec- CONCLUSION
resolution because it failed to imple- tive in maintaining peace and security The situation in Gaza remains
ment an immediate ceasefire due to rid Kaag was appointed to this in Gaza. Besides, the two resolutions grim as the conflict between Hamas
the opposition from the US and Isra- vital role. The resolution was were proposed at the UNGA and and Israel is active. The ongoing
el. However, China and France voted gained the majority of votes in favor tussle between the members of the
in favor of the resolution. Since no delayed multiple times despite of a “sustainable humanitarian truce,” UNSC had only resulted in demon-
P-5 members vetoed it, the resolution the severity of the humanitarian but they had no legal obligation. strating the ineffectiveness of the
was adopted by the UNSC. Meanwhile, the war in Gaza Security Council. At the UNSC, the
UNGA’s “Resolution on Protec- crisis in Gaza. The resolution did continued, in fact expanded as Israel countries are divided between those
tion of Civilians and Upholding Le- not demand an immediate end continued to carry out air strikes in who are seeking a ceasefire to end the
gal and Humanitarian Obligations” northern and southern Gaza. Israel’s humanitarian crisis of unparalleled
on December 12, 2023, demanding to the fighting. government was clear that the war scale and those who are seeking to
an “immediate humanitarian cease- against Hamas would continue un- root out Hamas from the Gaza Strip,
fire,” the immediate and uncondi- The member states had to hold til all of Israel’s goals were achieved, which has resulted in the killing of
tional release of all hostages, and several negotiations with the US so namely, to topple the Gaza-ruling more than 25000 civilians and injuring
“ensuring humanitarian access.” It that the American Representative at terror group, secure the release of all more than 65000 in the Gaza enclave.
was passed with a large majority of the UNSC could not veto the reso- the hostages, and ensure that there is This logjam has created pessimism
153 in favor and 10 against, with 23 lution again. Besides, it was also re- no further threat from the enclave to that the UN is failing again to prevent
abstentions. However, the resolution ported that there were growing differ- Israel’s security. the regionalization of conflict, vio-
did not condemn Hamas or make any ences between the State Department The deadlock at the UNSC over lence, and instability, and has led to
specific references to the extremist and the White House that further the issue of “permanent ceasefire”, repeated calls for enhancing the effec-
group. Countries including the US, delayed the voting on the resolution. the mounting humanitarian crisis, and tiveness of the body and for reformed
Israel, Austria, Paraguay, and Liberia At the UNSC, 13 members approved the emerging regionalization of the multilateralism with the reform of the
voted against the resolution. the resolution. Among the P-5 mem- Gaza War, pushed Egypt, Qatar, and UNSC at its core. The Israel-Hamas
UAE Proposed Resolution 2720 bers, Russia and the US abstained the US to mediate the “humanitarian War is yet another occasion when the
(2023): The UAE proposed resolu- from voting, while France, China and pause” between Israel and Hamas UN will be tested for its performance
tion 2720 was adopted in the UNSC UK voted in favor of the resolution. outside the UN. The humanitarian and efficacy.
on December 22, 2023. The resolu- Israel’s Ambassador to the UN not pause which was agreed on Novem-
tion called for “urgent and extended only criticized the resolution but also ber 24, 2023, however, was lasted only Dr Arshad is a Research Intern at Indi-
humanitarian pauses and corridors raised the issue that the UN still had for a short period of time (7 days). an Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
throughout the Gaza Strip for a suf- not condemned Hamas. In that period, the Israel and Views expressed are personal.
ficient number of days to enable full, The UNSC considered three Hamas started exchanging 105 hostag- This article first appeared in
rapid, safe and unhindered humani- resolutions to diffuse the conflict be- es and 240 prisoners in several stages
tarian access,” and the “creation of tween Hamas and Israel, as discussed through a ‘temporary truce.’ Negoti- the Viewpoint section of the website
conditions for a sustainable cessation above. However, the UNSC P-5 mem- ations over the exchange of prisoners (www.icwa.in) of Indian Council of
of hostilities.” bers could not take a unified approach got over as Israel and the US blamed World Affairs, New Delhi

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