United Nations Security Council draft resolution S/2023/792
Date: 2023-10-25 (meeting 9453)
Agenda: The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
Vetoed by: CHINA
RUSSIA/USSR

United Nations
Security Council
Distr.: General
25 October 2023
Original: English
S/2023/792

United States of America: draft resolution
The Security Council,
Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling its resolutions on combatting terrorism, against kidnapping and
hostage taking of civilians by terrorist organizations, on the protection of civilians
and children in armed conflict, on hunger in conflict, and on the situation in the
Middle East, and recalling that any measures taken to counter terrorism must comply
with all obligations under international law, in particular international human rights
law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law,
Expressing deep concern at instances of discrimination, intolerance and violent
extremism, manifesting in the form of hate speech or violence based on race, sex,
ethnicity or religion or belief, such as but not limited to persons belonging to religious
communities, in particular cases motivated by Islamophobia, antisemitism or
Christianophobia, and other forms of intolerance,
Reaffirming that terrorism in all forms and manifestations constitutes one of the
most serious threats to international peace and security and that any acts of terrorism
are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever and by
whomsoever committed,
Expressing grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in the region, and
emphasizing that all civilian populations – including Israelis and Palestinians must
be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law and international
human rights law,
Expressing deep concern for the humanitarian situation in Gaza and for its grave
impact on the civilian population, especially the disproportionate effect on children,
and underlining the need for full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access,
Recalling its desire that a lasting end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only
be achieved by peaceful means, based on its relevant resolutions,
Noting that Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza do not stand for the dignity
or self-determination of the Palestinian people and that Hamas has been designated
as a terrorist organization by numerous Member States,
Determined to combat by all means in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human
rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law, threats to
international peace and security caused by terrorist acts,
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S/2023/792

1.
Unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous terrorist attacks by
Hamas and other terrorist groups that took place in Israel starting 7 October 2023, as
well as the taking and killing of hostages, murder, torture, rape, sexual violence, and
continued indiscriminate firing of rockets;
2.
Expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their
families and to the Government of Israel and all Governments whose citizens were
targeted and lost their lives in the above-mentioned attacks;
3. Further expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to Palestinian
civilians and all other civilians who have lost their lives since 7 October 2023,
including at the Al-Ahli Hospital on 17 October 2023;
4.
Reaffirms the inherent right of all States to individual and collective self-
defense, and also reaffirms that in responding to terrorist attacks, Member States must
fully comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular
international human rights law, international refugee law, and international
humanitarian law;
5.
Strongly urges all parties to fully respect and comply with obligations
under international law, including international human rights law and international
humanitarian law, including those related to the conduct of hostilities and to the
protection of the civilian population, including civilians who are trying to get to
safety, and civilian infrastructure, and reiterates the need to take appropriate steps to
ensure the safety and well-being of civilians and their protection, as well as
humanitarian workers and assets;
6. Reaffirms that any movement of people must be voluntary, safe, and
consistent with international law and urges all parties to take appropriate steps to
promote the safety and well-being of civilians and their protection, including
children, in allowing their safe movement;
7.
Condemns in the strongest terms all violence and hostilities against
civilians, as well as the continued gross, systematic and widespread abuses of human
rights, violations of international humanitarian law, and depraved acts of destruction
carried out by Hamas, including its deplorable use of civilians as human shields and
its attempt to thwart the protection of civilians;
8. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining
hostages taken by Hamas and other terrorist groups, as well as their continued safety,
well-being, and humane treatment consistent with international law and expresses
appreciation for the efforts by all states, including Qatar, for the release on 20 October
2023 of two hostages taken by Hamas;
9.
Calls for all measures, specifically to include humanitarian pauses, to
allow the full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access, consistent with
international humanitarian law, for United Nations humanitarian agencies and their
implementing partners, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other
impartial humanitarian organizations, to facilitate the continuous, sufficient and
unhindered provision of essential goods and services important to the well-being of
civilians in Gaza, including especially water, electricity, fuel, food, and medical
supplies;
10. Welcomes the announcement on 21 October 2023 by the Secretary General
of the initial provision of humanitarian supplies to civilians in Gaza via the Rafah
Crossing, as well as the additional delivery of supplies on 22 October 2023, and calls
on Member States to further support the efforts of the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan,
and others to further allow the full, rapid, safe, and unhindered access consistent with
international humanitarian law and to build on this important first step, including by

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S/2023/792
advancing such practical steps such as the establishment of humanitarian corridors
and other initiatives for the sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians;
11. Reiterates the call on all parties to armed conflict to comply with their
obligations under international humanitarian law including regarding respecting and
protecting civilians and taking constant care to spare civilian objects, including such
objects critical to the delivery of essential services to the civilian population,
refraining from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects that are
indispensable to the survival of the civilian population and respecting and protecting
humanitarian personnel and consignments used for humanitarian relief operations;
12. Emphasizes that civilian and humanitarian facilities, including medical
hospitals, medical facilities, schools, places of worship, and facilities of the UN, as
well as humanitarian personnel, and medical personnel exclusively engaged in
medical duties, and their means of transport, must be respected and protected,
according to international humanitarian law, and calls on all parties to act consistently
with these principles and rules;
13. Underscores the importance of coordination and deconfliction to protect
all humanitarian sites, including UN facilities, and to help facilitate the movement of
aid convoys;
14. Urges Member States to intensify their efforts to suppress the financing of
terrorism, including by restricting financing of Hamas through applicable national -
level authorities, in accordance with international law and consistent with resolution
2482 (2019);
15. Calls on all States and international organizations to intensify urgent,
concrete steps to support efforts by the United Nations and regional States to prevent
the violence in Gaza from escalating, spilling over or expanding to other areas in the
region, and calls on all those with influence to work towards this objective, including
by demanding the immediate cessation by Hezbollah and other armed-groups of all
attacks which constitute clear violations of resolution 1701 (2006) and relevant
Security Council resolutions;
16. Calls on all States to take practical steps to prevent the export of arms and
materiel to armed militias and terrorist groups operating in Gaza, including Hamas;
17. Stresses that lasting peace can only be based on an enduring commitment
to mutual recognition, full respect for human rights, freedom from violence and
incitement, and affirms the urgency of diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive
peace based on the vision of a region where two democratic states, Israel and
Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognized borders as envisioned
in its prior resolutions, and calls for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
based on the relevant United Nations resolutions including a two-State solution;
18. Expresses its solidarity with all the people who long for lasting peace
based on a two-state solution, and also its support for practical measures, consistent
with international law, necessary to contribute to ending the cycle of violence;
rebuilding trust and confidence, and creating the necessary conditions to advance
peace and security;
19. Decides to remain seized of the matter.
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Voting result: 10 yes, 3 no, 2 abstentions
Votes by member:
country: Albania
vote: Y
country: Brazil
vote: A
country: China
vote: N
country: Ecuador
vote: Y
country: France
vote: Y
country: Gabon
vote: Y
country: Ghana
vote: Y
country: Japan
vote: Y
country: Malta
vote: Y
country: Mozambique
vote: A
country: Russian Federation
vote: N
country: Switzerland
vote: Y
country: United Arab Emirates
vote: N
country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
vote: Y
country: United States of America
vote: Y