UNITED NATIONS - In a long-awaited vote, the U.N. Security Council adopted a watered-down resolution on Friday, calling for immediate speeded-up aid deliveries to hungry and desperate civilians in Gaza. However, the original call for an "urgent suspension of hostilities" between Israel and Hamas was conspicuously absent from the resolution.

The vote, which saw 13 in favor and 0 against, with the United States and Russia choosing to abstain, came after the United States vetoed a Russian amendment seeking to restore the call for an immediate halt to hostilities. The vote tally for the Russian amendment was 10 countries in favor, the U.S. against, and four abstentions.

By abstaining from the final vote, the United States avoided a second veto of a Gaza resolution in the aftermath of Hamas' surprise attacks on October 7. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed relief, stating, "This was tough, but we got there."

Thomas-Greenfield emphasized that the adopted resolution would strengthen efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by providing life-saving assistance and securing the release of hostages. She also reiterated the need to protect innocent civilians and humanitarian workers, while working towards a lasting peace in the region.

However, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia criticized the resolution for being "entirely toothless" and accused the United States of employing "shameful, cynical and irresponsible conduct." Nebenzia further accused the U.S. of resorting to tactics such as "gross pressure, blackmail, and twisting arms" to avoid using its veto power.

During the voting process, Russia proposed an amendment to reinstate the call for the suspension of hostilities. Nebenzia argued that adopting the revised resolution without this provision would grant the Israeli armed forces complete freedom of movement in clearing the Gaza Strip.

Despite claims of a watered-down resolution, Thomas-Greenfield asserted that the resolution was "strong" and received full support from the Arab group. She believed it encompassed what was necessary to ensure effective humanitarian assistance on the ground.

Unfortunately, the resolution was stripped of its key provision calling for the urgent suspension of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, which Russia aimed to restore during the voting process.

This resolution puts the international community's spotlight on the dire situation in Gaza, highlighting the pressing need for increased aid deliveries to alleviate the suffering of its citizens. As tensions continue to simmer in the region, the absence of a call for an immediate suspension of hostilities signals ongoing uncertainty and challenges in reaching a sustainable cessation of hostilities.