The United States mission to the United Nations distributed the fifth draft of the draft resolution, related to the war on Gaza and the catastrophic humanitarian conditions suffered by more than two million Palestinians.

Members of the Security Council have demanded that it be placed in blue so that it is ready to be voted on within 24 hours, but the United States is still procrastinating in the hope that an agreement will be reached on a ceasefire and the release of detainees through Egyptian-Qatari mediation. The United States distributed the draft resolution in its first draft on February 20, the day it used its veto against the Algerian draft resolution.

In its current draft, the draft resolution did not call for an immediate ceasefire, and the reference to a “six-week” ceasefire was removed. The draft resolution now states in its first working paragraph that the Security Council “unequivocally supports international diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire.” “An immediate and sustained ceasefire as part of a deal that releases hostages and provides the basis for a more sustainable peace and relief of human suffering.” The overwhelming majority of Council members want to see clear language demanding an immediate ceasefire.

On the other hand, the draft resolution, in its amended text, consisting of 26 working paragraphs, states not a rejection of the expected Israeli military operation in Rafah, but rather an expression of concern about any expansion of the military operation in Rafah and the dangers of military action on the civilian population under the current circumstances.

The second paragraph in the current draft of the US draft resolution indicates support for the window that the ceasefire will provide for a diplomatic effort to create the conditions for a sustainable reduction of hostilities and the establishment of lasting peace, as stipulated in UN Security Council Resolution 2720 (2023).

In its third working paragraph, the draft resolution calls for adherence to international humanitarian law, including with regard to action regarding the protection of civilians and civilian monuments and the protection of humanitarian aid, health workers and medical infrastructure.

The fourth paragraph calls for expanding and accelerating the delivery of humanitarian aid to all parts of Gaza, and the necessity of removing all barriers and obstacles to humanitarian aid, according to the text of Security Council Resolution 2712 (2023). The draft resolution also calls for the delivery of aid from all crossings, the opening of other crossings, the benefit of sea lines when available, and the need to provide protection for those crossings.

In its fifth paragraph, the draft resolution rejects the forced displacement of the civilian population in Gaza, which constitutes a violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law.

The draft resolution also calls on Hamas and other armed groups to immediately allow “humanitarian communication with the remaining hostages.” The draft resolution calls for stopping the financing of “terrorist movements.”

The draft resolution also emphasizes the need to respect and protect hospitals and health and medical workers. It calls on all parties to respect all humanitarian notifications and distribution mechanisms to ensure the safety of UN staff and humanitarian workers. The resolution also calls on all parties to cooperate with the United Nations Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator, Ms. Sigrid Kaag.

Working Paragraph 22 relates to the necessity of respecting the Blue Line in southern Lebanon and calling on all parties to exercise restraint, while Paragraph 23 condemns in the strongest terms the Houthi attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea and demands that they be stopped immediately. Paragraphs 24 and 25 also indicate the importance of working to achieve a lasting peace based on mutual recognition, respect for human rights, protection from violence and incitement, and a commitment to the two-state solution: Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace within recognized borders, in harmony with United Nations resolutions, as the project confirms. The decision is based on the unity of the West Bank and Gaza Strip under the leadership of the Palestinian Authority.