After days of intense negotiations, the United Nations Security Council has approved a resolution calling for urgent action to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The territory has been severely impacted by weeks of Israeli bombardment, leading to a dire situation with significant civilian casualties and widespread displacement.

The resolution, drafted by the United Arab Emirates, received overwhelming support with a vote of 13-0. Notably, the United States and Russia abstained from the vote. The resolution fell short of calling for an immediate cease-fire, due to a lack of unanimous support. However, it emphasized the need for "urgent steps" to allow expanded aid into Gaza.

Originally scheduled for Monday, the vote was deferred multiple times to allow for negotiations to secure an agreement without a veto from the United States, Israel's closest international ally. In an effort to find common ground, the agreed-upon text of the resolution was somewhat diluted compared to earlier drafts. Previous versions had explicitly called for a cessation or suspension of hostilities, which the U.S. objected to. The final language instead focused on creating "the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities."

An additional point of contention surrounded the issue of inspecting aid convoys entering Gaza. Currently, Israel conducts these inspections to ensure weapons are not being smuggled in for Hamas. The U.S. has urged Israel to expedite the process, but the Biden administration has expressed concerns about further complicating the situation with a new U.N. resolution. The final resolution, therefore, did not establish a new inspection regime. Instead, it called for the appointment of a coordinator by the U.N. secretary-general to facilitate aid delivery in Gaza.

The resolution also emphasized the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and urged the provision of adequate fuel to meet humanitarian needs. This fuel provision has been a contentious issue for Israel, as it fears Hamas could divert fuel for military purposes.

Friday's resolution marks a shift in the U.S.'s stance on Security Council resolutions related to Israel and Gaza. In the past, the U.S. has consistently vetoed such resolutions during the conflict, citing rushed processes and a lack of explicit condemnation of Hamas. However, international criticism of the Israeli military's handling of the situation has grown, prompting the U.S. to send officials to Israel in an attempt to deescalate the intensity of the Gaza operation.

The prolonged Israeli ground offensive has resulted in the displacement of approximately 85% of Gaza's population, with people seeking refuge in shelters and tent camps in the southern region. The northern parts of Gaza have been devastated by airstrikes, damaging essential infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and places of worship, as well as thousands of homes.

Critics have raised concerns about Israel's approach, claiming that it has not done enough to mitigate harm to civilians. This sentiment has been echoed by both international voices and, increasingly, by the U.S. itself. The Israeli military's admission that its own soldiers mistakenly shot and killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza, who were attempting to signal for rescue, has intensified the scrutiny.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's visit to Israel this week aimed to encourage a reduction in wide-scale harm to civilians and a shift toward more targeted operations. According to Israel, the attacks by Hamas fighters on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of hundreds of others. Israel's military has also suffered significant losses, with over 130 soldiers killed in the ground offensive. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office reports that at least 129 individuals remain captive in Gaza, and it is believed that at least 20 of them have perished.

Since October 7, over 20,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, as reported by the health ministry in Gaza, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The majority of those killed, according to the ministry, have been women and children, underscoring the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.