After vetoing two resolutions, the United States agrees to the text on Gaza that will be voted on in the UN Security Council world

The UN logo outside the headquarters in New York – Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

An attempt to increase aid to the Gaza Strip will be voted on in the UN Security Council on Friday (22) by member states.

The United States, one of the council’s founding members and an ally of Israel, won approval from other countries for the changes it sought and, for the first time, supported a proposed resolution that included a ceasefire.

The proposal prepared by the UAE underwent two weeks of negotiations until the text was reached on Thursday.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “This is a resolution we can support.”

Since the conflict began on October 7, the United States has twice vetoed resolutions opposing Israel.

The current version of the text calls for “urgent measures to immediately allow safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, as well as to create conditions for a permanent ceasefire.” But it does not call for an immediate halt to the fighting.

How is voting done?

The US veto on the Brazilian text at the United Nations – Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

The group consists of five countries with permanent seats – the United States of America, the United Kingdom, China, Russia and France – which, when voting, have veto power over decisions, and 10 other countries with rotating seats.

The solutions voted on in the Council require the approval of 9 votes. However, countries with permanent seats can veto an approved proposal, even if they are the only ones to reject it. These members can also abstain from voting, i.e. allow the resolution to pass in practice.