US engaging in high-level diplomacy to avoid vetoing UN resolution on critical aid

The US wants to change the text’s references to a cessation of hostilities in the war. The current draft proposes a UN role, an idea Israel is likely to oppose

On December 8, the US vetoed a resolution, backed by almost all other council members and dozens of nations, demanding an immediate ceasefire

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People visit the UN Headquarters as delegates of the Security Council delayed for one extra day the vote on a proposal to demand that Israel and Hamas allow aid access to the Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:00pm, 21 Dec 2023Updated: 4:06am, 22 Dec 2023

The United States, key allies and Arab nations are engaged in high-level diplomacy in hopes of avoiding another US veto of a new UN resolution on desperately needed aid to Gaza. The long-delayed vote, last scheduled for Thursday morning, has been postponed again.

US deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters as he headed into a Security Council meeting on Syria: “We’re still working it. We’re working it very hard.” He said there needed to be some changes in the text “that would make it worthy of our support.”

No new time was set for a vote, and diplomats said Russia called for closed consultations among the 15 council members on Thursday afternoon.

Everyone wants to see a resolution that has impact and that is implementable on the ground

Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Permanent Representative to the UN

The US has been struggling to change the text’s references to a cessation of hostilities in the Israel-Gaza war, but the key sticking point is the inspection of aid trucks entering into Gaza to ensure they are only carrying humanitarian goods. The current draft calls for the UN to take over the job from Israel.

Nathan Evans, the spokesman for the US Mission to the United Nations, stressed that the resolution’s goal is to expand aid getting into Gaza.

“There are still serious and widespread concerns that this resolution as drafted could actually slow down delivery of humanitarian aid by directing the UN to create an unworkable monitoring mechanism,” Evans said. “We must ensure any resolution helps and doesn’t hurt the situation on the ground.”

Both the UN and aid groups worry that if the UN is placed in charge of inspections, it would delay deliveries into Gaza and may not even be possible. Israel insists it must maintain the lead on inspecting deliveries.