Security Council adopts key resolution on Gaza situation

At the same time, Israel is expanding its ground campaign in the Gaza Strip, increasing its forces in Khan Younis and simultaneously demanding that people leave the al-Bureij refugee camp.

(12.23) HĐBA LHQ đã thông qua Nghị quyết về viên trợ cho Dải Gaza - Ảnh: Binh sĩ Israel kiểm tra các chuyến xe viện trợ hàng hóa vào Dải Gaza ngày 22/12/2023. (Nguồn: AFP/Getty Images)

The United Nations Security Council has adopted an important resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict and the situation in the Gaza Strip - Photo: Israeli soldiers inspect aid convoys entering the Gaza Strip on December 22, 2023. (Source: AFP/Getty Images)

On December 22 (New York time), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed Resolution 2720 sponsored by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with 13 votes in favor and 2 abstentions from the US and Russia.

The resolution calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities to allow for the safe, unhindered and urgent delivery of humanitarian aid directly to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. It also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. The resolution was passed after several delays due to the US position.

On the same day, AP and Reuters reported that the Israeli army was expanding its ground military operation in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it would send more combat troops south of Khan Younis and asked residents to leave the al-Bureij refugee camp. Both locations were previously declared safe zones for refugees from northern Gaza.

Also on December 22, a group representing the families of the hostages said that American citizen Gadi Haggai, who was among 240 people captured in Hamas' cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, died while in captivity in the Gaza Strip.

The Hostage and Family Forum for the Missing said Haggai, 73, also holds Israeli citizenship. The US Embassy in Israel has yet to comment on the information.

According to official Israeli statistics, 129 people are still being held in the Gaza Strip after the rest were repatriated in a November ceasefire or rescued in IDF raids. Of those still held in Gaza, 22 have died, according to the Israeli government. According to the forum, 5-10 of the hostages are American citizens.

In related news, the US website The Messenger cited a poll from the country's Near East Research Institute showing that 96% of Saudi Arabian people believe that Arab countries should cut off all diplomatic, political, economic ties... with Israel.

Some 91% of those polled said that, despite the destruction and human toll, the conflict in the Gaza Strip was a victory for Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims.

The results also showed that the conflict has made Saudis view Hamas more positively. About 40% of respondents had a positive view of Hamas, compared to 10% in the previous poll in the summer. These results are seen as an obstacle to the US's intention to promote normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

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