A UN resolution is a formal expression of the opinion or will of a United Nations body. They follow a standard format and are typically published as individual documents or in annual or sessional compilations. Resolutions are often numbered and may have annexes with additional text.
The Security Council has the ultimate responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It is one of the most powerful organs in the world, with the power to adopt binding resolutions that can have global impact. However, its most controversial tool is the veto, which can be used by any permanent member of the Council (the “P5”) to block any proposed action that they consider to go against their national interests or the national interest of the United Nations as a whole. The veto has been criticized for fueling deadlock and protecting the geopolitical interests of P5 members at the expense of international security and peace.
This resolution reaffirms previous resolutions calling for an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories and condemning Israel for its ongoing settlement construction activities there. It also reiterates a call for the immediate, unconditional and durable ceasefire of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
This draft resolution, initiated by the Council’s ten elected members (E10), urges all permanent members to refrain from using their vetoes to block action to prevent or end mass atrocity crimes such as genocide and war crimes. It also encourages all UN member states to accede to the Code of Conduct for the Security Council, which has been endorsed by Costa Rica, France, Germany, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Singapore and Switzerland.