Vote on the United Nations Security Council resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened today (18) to consider a draft resolution on the recent developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, focusing on its humanitarian aspects, especially humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.

As a country historically committed to peace and in its capacity as the President of the Security Council for the month of October, Brazil has worked diligently to reduce polarization, accommodate differing positions and interests, and present a text capable of protecting the lives of civilians and ensuring humanitarian access to the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

The draft condemns the acts of terrorism committed by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilian hostages; urges a humanitarian pause to allow for the rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid; demands the continuous supply of essential goods to the civilian population, such as medical supplies, water, and food; and calls for the rescission of the order for civilians and United Nations personnel to evacuate the entire area in Gaza north of Wadi Gaza.

The draft from the Brazilian presidency gathered broad support and was approved by 12 out of 15 members of the UNSC, reflecting the high level of concern about the humanitarian situation arising from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Approval in the Security Council requires the support of at least nine of its members. However, the veto by a permanent member of the Security Council led to the rejection of the draft by the Security Council. Two members abstained from the vote.

The Brazilian government regrets that, once again, the use of the veto has prevented the principal organ for maintaining international peace and security from acting in the face of the catastrophic humanitarian crisis caused by the recent escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza. Brazil considers it urgent for the international community to establish a ceasefire and resume the peace process.

Brazil will continue to seek agreements that alleviate the dramatic humanitarian situation we are witnessing and contribute to the realization of a two-state solution, with an economically viable Palestinian State living in peace and security with Israel within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders.

On Wednesday, Minister Mauro Vieira will travel to New York to, among other activities of the Brazilian presidency, preside over a High-Level Open Debate of the Security Council dedicated to the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, on 10/24. The meeting will allow countries to call for a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors at the highest level.

The full text of the resolution presented by Brazil to the UNSC follows below:

The Security Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 446 (1979), 452 (1979), 465 (1980), 476 (1980), 478 (1980), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), and 1850 (2008) and 2334 (2016),

Reaffirming that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever and by whomsoever committed,

Expressing grave concern at the escalation of violence and the deterioration of the situation in the region, in particular the resulting heavy civilian casualties, an d emphasizing that civilians in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, must be protected, in accordance with international humanitarian law,

Expressing deep concern for the humanitarian situation in Gaza and for its grave effect for the civilian population, largely comprised of children, and underlining the need for full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access,

Encouraging efforts aiming at a cessation of hostilities that would help to ensure the protection of civilians both in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem,

Reiterating its vision of a region where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders,

Recalling that a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means, based on its relevant resolutions,

1. Firmly condemns all violence and hostilities against civilians and all acts of terrorism;

2. Unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages;

3. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, demanding for their safety, well-being, and humane treatment in compliance with international law;

4. Urges all parties to fully comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including those related to the conduct of hostilities, including in relation to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as humanitarian workers S/2023/773 2/2 23-20284 and assets and to allow for and facilitate humanitarian access for essential supplies and services to those in need;

5. Strongly urges the continuous, sufficient and unhindered provision of essential goods and services to civilians, including electricity, water, fuel, food, and medical supplies, stressing the imperative, under international humanitarian law, to ensure civilians are not deprived of objects indispensable to their survival;

6. Calls for the rescission of the order for civilians and UN staff to evacuate all areas in Gaza north of the Wadi Gaza and relocate in southern Gaza;

7. Calls for humanitarian pauses to allow full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for United Nations humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other impartial humanitarian organizations, and encourages the establishment of humanitarian corridors and other initiatives for the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians;

8. Stresses the importance of a humanitarian notification mechanism to protect UN facilities and all humanitarian sites, and to ensure the movement of aid convoys;

9. Calls for the respect and protection, consistent with international humanitarian law, of all medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities;

10. Emphasizes the importance of preventing spillover in the region and, in this regard, calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and on all those with influence on them to work toward this objective;

11. Decides to remain seized of the matter.