The UN Security Council has again postponed a vote on a ceasefire in Gaza. Polling has been postponed for the third consecutive day. Although the exact wording of a resolution was previously the most important obstacle, the monitoring system for aid is the product of disagreements between the UN on the one hand and the US and Israel on the other.

According to Israel correspondent Ralph Dekkers, Israel does not want aid monitored by the UN, but rather by Israel. There is also talk of aid being channeled through Cyprus. ‘It has been talked about before, but there are slippages. It is unclear whether ships will be able to dock at Gaza’s destroyed ports.

A break in the fight

Negotiations are now underway in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to end the fighting. Deckers says Israel wants a one-week break but wants the hostages back, not an end to the war. Hamas wants a cease-fire first, then talks about a prisoner exchange. Hamas is demanding the release of about six thousand Palestinians. ‘There is some movement,’ says Deckers.

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Meanwhile, following reports by fact-checkers, including the BBC, the death toll figures provided by Hamas appear to be more accurate. According to Hamas, twenty thousand Palestinians have been killed since October 7. Deckers: ‘When the death toll was fifteen thousand, Israel admitted that the figure was correct, but added that a third of them were terrorists.’

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However, thousands of bodies are feared to be buried under the rubble. According to security services, about 29,000 bombs have been fired at Gaza, half of them unguided. Thirty thousand bombs in an area of ​​forty twelve kilometers where two million people live. Due to this, the death of civilians cannot be avoided.’