ammonnews.net

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordan is currently lobbying diplomats from states who hold positions to the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution calling for an immediate solution to the ongoing Gaza crisis, one that would bring about a lasting ceasefire and a lifting of the blockade, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.

According to the draft resolution, the UN Security Council is called to respect international law and express "grave concern" in regards to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Earlier in the conflict, before the establishment of the Israel-Hamas negotiations in Cairo, it had been speculated that a UN Security Council resolution may bring about a ceasefire, similar to the one adopted at the end of the Second Lebanon War.

However, the position of the UN regarding the Gaza conflict had been under fierce criticism in Israel in recent days, especially after the appointment of a probe into alleged international law violations made by both sides.

Israel criticized the appointed team, especially its chief, Canadian international law expert William Schabas, as biased against Israel.

Meanwhile, as the Amman draft resolution continues to make the rounds, diplomatic experts told Jerusalem Post that the currently existing resolution is "outdated" and if it will be up for a vote, changes will have to be made – as it reflects the situation on August 4, before the attention shifted to Egypt-mediated efforts.

Earlier this week, the Security Council discussed the situation in Gaza just hours before a five-day truce was set to expire Monday night, as Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held talks in Cairo.

The truce was eventually violates mere hours before its end, with both sides blaming the other for the violation: Hamas claiming Israel bombed a house in Gaza city attempting to assassinate Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, killing his wife and infant son, and Israel stating that Hamas renewed the rocket fire prior to the airstrikes, though Israel did not confirm whether an attempt on Deif's life was made.

Speaking at the Security Council meeting, UN Mideast envoy Robert Serry told the forum that reconstruction of Gaza remained the main priority once a durable ceasefire is agreed between Hamas and Israel.

Serry said the sides should aim "at the very least" to agree on extending the temporary truce that he said had left almost 2,000 Palestinians dead, more than two-thirds of whom are civilians.

Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor separately accused the United Nations of bias.

"Have you wondered where the UN gets its casualty figures from? I'll tell you where - from Hamas," Prosor told journalists.

*I 24