Security Council disagreements come to light after a closed session on the war

The five permanent members of the Security Council failed, during a closed consultation session that was dominated by “tension,” according to diplomats, to agree on the draft resolution proposed by the ten elected countries, due to continuing disagreements over the nature of the desired humanitarian truces, to deliver urgent aid to more than two million besieged Palestinian civilians. In Gaza, which was turned by Israeli bombing into a cemetery for children under the slogan of eliminating “Hamas.”

Asharq Al-Awsat learned from a diplomat in the Council that the President of the Security Council for the month of November, the Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, proposed a minimum consensus on a group of “elements for the press” that includes “a demand for an immediate ceasefire.” In addition to “ensuring the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.” However, the alternative US representative for political affairs, Robert Wood, rejected the Chinese proposal.

Paris conference

Following the closed meeting, which lasted for approximately two hours, the French Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nicolas de Rivière, stated, referring first to the humanitarian conference organized by French President Emmanuel Macron, Thursday, in Paris, with the participation of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini, and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency Aid Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said, “What we must do is protect civilians and provide humanitarian relief to them,” explaining that to achieve this, “we need humanitarian truces, we need to provide access to UN agencies and non-governmental organizations, and this must happen now.”

Chinese position

The French diplomat avoided answering questions about the difference in views between his country on the one hand, and the United States and Britain on the other.

Then the President of the Security Council came out with the Emirati delegate, Lana Nusseibeh. He pointed out that “Israeli attacks hit hospitals, refugee camps, schools, United Nations buildings, places of worship, and other civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip,” adding that “in the midst of this catastrophic situation, we stressed the need for the Security Council to act urgently and adopt a meaningful and implementable resolution.” ». She urged all parties to “take urgent steps towards cessation of hostilities, to ensure the protection of civilians,” calling on the parties to the conflict to “facilitate the continuous and adequate provision of basic goods and services without obstacles to all civilians throughout the Gaza Strip.” He explained that “services include electricity, water, fuel, food and sustainable medical supplies.”

The situation is “catastrophic”

Lana Nusseibeh said that in the midst of “the catastrophic situation, we stress the need for the Security Council to act urgently and adopt a meaningful and implementable resolution,” calling for “an urgent humanitarian ceasefire.” She urged “all parties to take urgent steps towards cessation of hostilities, to ensure the protection of civilians,” calling on the parties to the conflict to “facilitate the continuous, adequate and unimpeded provision of basic goods and services to all civilians throughout the Gaza Strip.” This must include sustainable and widespread electricity, water, fuel, food and medical supplies.”

The next day

The American delegate separately acknowledged that the United States is working to reach humanitarian truces. He told reporters: “We are interested in continuing the dialogue on this matter,” acknowledging that “there are disagreements within the Council.”

In response to a question about the next day after the elimination of Hamas’ rule in Gaza, Wood replied: “We have not reached this stage.” He expressed “concern about any type of violence taking place along the border with Lebanon,” explaining: “We do not want this war to spread (...) We believe that it is not in anyone’s interest for this war to extend to Lebanon.”