UNITED NATIONS (AP) 鈥 The U.N. Security Council on Monday failed again to agree on a resolution on the monthlong Israel-Hamas war.
Despite more than two hours of closed-door discussions Monday, differences remained. The U.S. is calling for 鈥渉umanitarian pauses鈥 while many other council members are demanding a 鈥渉umanitarian cease-fire鈥 to deliver desperately needed aid and prevent more civilian deaths in Gaza.
鈥淲e talked about humanitarian pauses and we鈥檙e interested in pursuing language on that score,鈥 U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters after the meeting. 鈥淏ut there are disagreements within the council about whether that鈥檚 acceptable.鈥
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier Monday told reporters he wanted an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza and a halt to the 鈥渟piral of escalation鈥 already taking place from the occupied West Bank, Lebanon and Syria to Iraq and Yemen.
Guterres said international humanitarian law, which demands protection of civilians and infrastructure essential for their lives, is clearly being violated and stressed that 鈥渘o party to an armed conflict is above鈥 these laws. He called for the immediate unconditional release of the hostages Hamas took from Israel to Gaza in its Oct. 7 attack.
China, which holds the Security Council presidency this month, and the United Arab Emirates, the Arab representative on the council, called Monday鈥檚 meeting because of the 鈥渃risis of humanity鈥 in Gaza, where have been killed in less than a month.
UAE Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh said all 15 council members 鈥渁re fully engaged鈥 and efforts will continue to try to narrow the gaps and reach agreement on a resolution.
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