CAIRO: The head of the Cairo-based Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, on Saturday criticised as overdue and inadequate a United Nations resolution for more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, according to Egyptian media.
After days of wrangling, the UN Security Council on Friday adopted the resolution calling for more humanitarian aid for civilians in the Gaza Strip, agreeing on a significantly watered-down text that allowed the United States, Israel's biggest backer, to abstain.
Aboul Gheit considered the resolution as having come late and falling short of the objective of fulfilling a full ceasefire in the densely populated enclave, Egyptian TV reported.
"The resolution is an attempt to prevent famine in the strip and save humans, mainly women and children, from a catastrophic situation, but it is not enough to stop the Israeli aggression machine, especially as it does not include a ceasefire," the broadcaster quoted Aboul Gheit as saying.
"What is required is not just the entry of humanitarian aid into the strip, but basically to protect civilians from constant bombardment and fulfilling a sustainable ceasefire," he added.
The top Arab diplomat said blocking an "immediate ceasefire is a licence to kill."
The resolution, which is binding under international law, calls on Israel to enable "the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip."
The humanitarian situation is dire for the more than 2 million people in the impoverished coastal enclave in the wake of 10 weeks of armed hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, the presidents of Egypt and Iran discussed recent developments in Gaza in what Iranian state television said on Saturday was their first phone call.
The television said Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had called his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el Sisi. The two men met in November for the first time on the sidelines of the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh.
"Raisi said Iran was ready to provide all its capacities to stop the genocide by the Israeli regime and send aid to the Palestinians," Iranian state TV reported, adding that it was the first time the two presidents had spoken by phone.
Their call follows other moves by countries in the region to ease tension in recent months. — Agencies
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