Three hospitals in Gaza are currently under siege by the Israeli military, with medical teams facing heavy gunfire. The United Nations Security Council is poised to vote on a new draft resolution urging for an immediate ceasefire in the region. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the resolution does not tie the pause in hostilities to the release of Israeli captives in Gaza, which was a sticking point in the previous draft that was vetoed.
Russia and China vetoed the previous text, citing it as overly politicized and lacking a clear stance against Israel’s potential ground operation in Rafah. Guterres emphasized the growing international consensus that a ceasefire in Gaza is imperative and warned Israel of the catastrophic consequences of a ground invasion in Rafah.
China has expressed support for the new UNSC draft resolution, which is expected to call for an immediate ceasefire during Ramadan, leading to a sustainable cessation of hostilities. The situation on the ground remains dire, with hospitals in Gaza coming under attack and medical staff facing grave risks as they try to provide care to the wounded.