On Friday, the Russian envoy to the UN demanded a “humanitarian cease-fire” between Israel and the Gaza Strip while accusing Washington of fomenting the war.
The Russian draft resolution, presented to the Security Council and seen by AFP, calls for an “immediate” ceasefire and the secure release of all hostages, and “strongly condemns all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism.”
The militant organization that controls Gaza and broke through the strongly guarded border with Israel on Saturday, killing 1,300 people, mostly civilians, was not expressly mentioned in the document.
Approximately 150 Israeli, international, and dual national hostages were taken back to Gaza during the initial attack, according to Israel, by Hamas, which is categorized as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States.
The bloodiest attack against Israel in its history has been carried out by Palestinian Islamists, and the United States has urged the Security Council to denounce them.
Over 600 children were among the more than 1,900 persons who died as a result of Israel’s barrage of missile strikes on the densely populated territory of Gaza in response to the incursion.
“We’re convinced that the Security Council must act to put an end to the bloodshed and restart peace negotiations with a view to establishing a Palestinian state as it was supposed to do so long ago,” Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said after the closed-door meeting of the Security Council on Friday.
Nebenzia said there were positive responses to the draft resolution among some member states.
He also blamed the United States for bearing “responsibility for the looming war in the Middle East,” and criticized European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen for “turning a blind eye to the Israeli air force attacks on civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.”
The Security Council is regularly divided on Israeli-Palestinian issues. Members spoke cautiously of the resolution after the meeting.
“The draft resolution appeared just two minutes before we went into the council meeting,” said British Ambassador Barbara Woodward.
“I think for something that is as important as this, we’ve already seen how much human life has been destroyed. We need time for consultation, serious consultation.”
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun said that “there is an emerging consensus on the humanitarian concerns,” adding: “We are open to all efforts which will help cease the fire, help de-escalate the tension.”
Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira, whose country chairs the rotating presidency of the Security Council, said that “Brazil will continue to work closely with all delegations aiming for a unified position by the Council on the situation.”
