On December 6, UN Secretary-General António Guterres wrote to the UN Security Council to call for a humanitarian ceasefire due to the unsustainable situation in the Gaza Strip. In this context, the United Arab Emirates introduced a resolution in the Security Council calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, compliance with international humanitarian law and the protection of Israeli and Palestinian civilians by both parties to the conflict, as well as the immediate release of all remaining hostages. Switzerland supported the resolution. However, it failed due to a veto by the United States. During the negotiations, Switzerland successfully argued for the protection of civilians on both sides and the release of hostages to be included in the text of the resolution.
The resolution would have had a humanitarian focus aimed at improving the dire situation of civilians in the Gaza Strip. After the vote, Switzerland clarified that the humanitarian ceasefire called for in the resolution would have been understood as a temporary humanitarian pause that would not have affected Israel's right to defense and security. The Federal Council discussed the draft resolution at its meeting today.
Switzerland regrets today's decision by the Council and will continue to work for the Security Council to agree on steps that go beyond humanitarian aid. This is essential for survival, but it will not resolve the conflict. A two-state solution negotiated by both sides is the basis for peace and stability in the Middle East.
