UN Security Council resolution fails to call for immediate ceasefire

Friday January 09, 2009 03:00 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

After several days of discussion, the United Nations’ Security Council issued a statement Thursday that failed to issue a call for an immediate ceasefire. The revised resolution stresses the “urgency for an immediate, durable, and fully respected ceasefire”.

The draft resolution was released at 5:15 PM Israeli time, and will be subject to further discussion before it’s voted on. 

The draft was composed by the United States, Britain, and France, and expressed “grave concern at the escalation of violence and the deterioration of the situation in Gaza and Israel”.

The main concern of the United States is the halt of arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip, and not the huge number of civilian casualties among the Palestinians, including women, children, infants and the elderly.

Meanwhile, Arab League Secretary General, Amro Mousa, said that the league’s firm position is that time cannot be wasted as the offensive is ongoing and leading to further civilian casualties.

Arab representatives at the UN have been debating with US, British and French Foreign Ministers in order to achieve a resolution to stop the offensive.

The Arab version of the resolution is based on a revised draft submitted by Libya, and demands an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

US, French and British ministers presented statements calling for an “immediate and durable ceasefire”. They also ‘welcomed’ a truce initiative presented by Egypt on Tuesday.

As talks and politics continue, the Israeli offensive continues in Gaza killing more civilians, including children, while Gaza hospitals, already suffering from the 18-month-long siege prior to the invasion, struggle to save the wounded without even the most basic medical equipment and without a reliable power supply.

Over 765 Palestinians, including at least 220 children and 90 women, have been killed by Israeli shells targeting their homes and even mosques and medical centers. At least fifty Palestinians were killed on Thursday. Nearly 3,200 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been wounded; 500 of the wounded are in critical condition.

gaza strip | israeli attacks | news report saed at imemc dot org