Will the UN Security Council succeed in “speak with one voice” ? The vote of its 15 members on a new resolution aimed at improving the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has once again been postponed, and could take place on Wednesday December 20. The board, widely criticized for its inaction since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, has been negotiating this four-page text carried by the United Arab Emirates for several days. He rejected five draft resolutions in two months, the latest having been blocked by a veto from the United States on December 8. Follow our live stream.
The draft resolution does not mention Hamas. The text carried by the United Arab Emirates condemns “all indiscriminate attacks against civilians” And “all acts of terrorism”, and demands the release of the hostages. But, like previous draft resolutions castigated by Israel and the United States, it does not name Hamas. This latest version also demands that the parties to the conflict facilitate the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and asks the UN Secretary-General to set up an aid monitoring mechanism.
Negotiations on a new truce. The Hamas leader is due to travel to Egypt on Wednesday for talks with the head of Egyptian intelligence. Negotiations must focus “on stopping aggression and war to prepare an agreement for the release of prisoners [palestiniens]the end of the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip”a source within Hamas told AFP. For his part, Israeli President Isaac Herzog declared on Tuesday that“Israel is ready for a new humanitarian pause and additional humanitarian aid to enable the release of the hostages” still held in Gaza.
Islamic Jihad releases hostage video. On Tuesday, the Hamas allied group broadcast images showing two living Israeli hostages, who call on the Israeli government to act for their release. It is not known when this video was filmed by the Al-Quds brigades, specifies the i24 News channel. According to the Israeli army, 129 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip.