The UN Security Council must decide on Tuesday on a new text demanding an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza, a resolution threatened by a new veto from the United States, their third since the start of the war between their Israeli ally and Hamas.
The draft resolution prepared by Algeria, seen by AFP, “demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire which must be respected by all parties”.
He opposes the “forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population”, while Israel has mentioned an evacuation of civilians before a ground offensive in Rafah where 1.4 million people are crowded in the south of the Gaza Strip. And he demands the release of all the hostages.
Voting is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m.
Like previous texts castigated by Israel and the United States, it does not, however, condemn the unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 against Israel which resulted in the death of more than 1,160 people, the majority civilians, according to a count. from AFP based on official Israeli data.
In retaliation, the Israeli army launched an offensive which left more than 29,000 dead in Gaza, the vast majority civilians, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health.
The United States warned this weekend that the Algerian text was not acceptable, threatening to veto it.
“We do not believe that this Council product would improve the situation on the ground, and so if this resolution is put to a vote, it will not pass,” Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood reiterated on Monday.
The Americans believe that this resolution would endanger the delicate diplomatic negotiations on the ground to obtain a truce including a new release of hostages.
In this context, they circulated an alternative draft resolution, seen by AFP on Monday.
While they had until now systematically opposed the use of the term “ceasefire”, vetoing two texts in October and December, their version supports a ceasefire but not immediate .
“Moral obligation”
Echoing recent statements by Joe Biden, the text thus evokes a “temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as it is feasible” and on the basis of a “formula” including the release of all hostages.
The American project is also concerned about Rafah, warning that “a large-scale land offensive should not take place under current conditions”.
“We do not plan to rush to a vote on our text,” a senior American official said on Monday, saying he did not have a “deadline”.
“As it stands, it cannot pass,” commented a diplomatic source, referring to several “problems” linked in particular to the wording around a ceasefire, and the risk of a Russian veto. facing a text produced by the United States.
In any case, this American project “will make Israel nervous. The United States is finally using the Security Council as a platform to show the limits of its patience with the Israeli campaign,” Richard Gowan, analyst at the International Crisis Group, commented to AFP.
The Council, largely divided on the Israeli-Palestinian issue for years, has only been able to adopt two resolutions on this issue since October 7, essentially humanitarian; without much result, the entry of aid into Gaza remaining largely insufficient.
Despite the prospect of a US veto, Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour pressed for a vote days ago, noting that the Arab group had been “more than generous in giving more time.”
So we are heading towards an American veto “which no one really wants, but which no one can avoid,” commented Richard Gowan, noting the unfortunate coincidence a few days before the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. .
“I am certain that Russia will use this opportunity to accuse the United States of a double standard when it comes to civilian suffering in Ukraine and the Middle East. »
“It’s sad,” Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassili Nebenzia commented on Monday.
The Council has a “moral obligation” to act “to put an end to this tragic situation”, added its Chinese counterpart Jun Zhang, ironic about the position of the United States which nevertheless “always calls for the protection of human rights”.