The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2712, calling for the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas and the establishment of humanitarian corridors in Gaza, said the UN on Wednesday.
The affirmative vote came after four unsuccessful attempts to take action last month.
The resolution, addressing the Israel-Palestine crisis that has escalated dramatically since October 7, received 12 votes in favor, none against, and three abstentions (Russia, United Kingdom, and United States).
It calls for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses in Gaza for a sufficient number of days to allow full, rapid, safe and unhindered access for UN agencies and partners.
It also urges the release of all hostages, particularly children, and ensuring immediate humanitarian access. It urges the parties to refrain from depriving Gaza’s civilian population of essential services, such as food, water, and electricity, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the observer State of Palestine, criticized the resolution saying that the Council should have heeded the call by the UN and “every humanitarian organization on Earth” calling for a humanitarian ceasefire, and that the resolution should have at least echoed the call of the General Assembly for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.
Israel’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Brett Jonathan Miller, said that Israel’s top priority is to bring the hostages home, and given that Security Council resolutions “hold no sway with terrorists, Israel will continue to do whatever it takes” to accomplish this goal.
He asserted that the war would end immediately, “should Hamas choose to lay down their arms, turn themselves in and hand over the hostages unscathed.”