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Last night, January 8, the Security Council adopted 14-0 (with the United States abstaining), a Resolution --1860 --to call for all hostilities to cease and to form a durable peace plan. The Secretary-General said the ceasefire resolution will help to ensure that urgent humanitarian assistance will get to desperately needed areas in Gaza.

The Resolution states: Gravely concerned by the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the resulting heavy civilian casualties “since the refusal to extend the period of calm” between Israel and Hamas, the Security Council this evening stressed the urgency of and called for an “immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire, leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza”.

The Council also expressed its grave concern at the escalation of violence and emphasized that Palestinian and Israeli civilian populations must be protected in the densely packed territory.

Immediately following the vote, Secretary‑General Ban said, “My visit to the region next week will focus on helping to ensure that the ceasefire is implemented, that urgent humanitarian assistance reaches those in need and encouraging the diplomatic efforts currently under way.”

The resolution sets out urgent tasks for the international community and calls on United Nations Member States to intensify their efforts to provide arrangements and guarantees in Gaza to sustain a durable ceasefire and calm, including to prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition, and to ensure the sustained reopening of crossing points on the basis of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

A United Nations aid envoy was fired upon yesterday by Israeli forces killing one driver. UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency) said that it was looking into the incident and said it is not pulling out of Gaza. UNRWA has a core national staff of 9,000 people. The WFP (World Food Program) said despite the slow movement of aid convoys, food and essential supplies are getting to Palestinian families.

The Israeli government issued today a statement underscoring its willingness to work with humanitarian workers and to assist in the safe delivery of workers.

John Ging, Director of Operations for UNRWA in Gaza said that negotiations have been ongoing with many mechanisms being called for to be put in place. "This is still a combat zone" said Ging. Concern for incidences (700 dead so far) and deep investigations into civilian deaths are ongoing. John Holmes, UN Humanitarian Coordinator, said there are currently no mechanisms in place to stop the recruitment of child soldiers and to expect so to be is "fanciful".

Ging added that the development for the next generation with 20,000 children out of school--the violence that they are growing up with is something we have to counter. "We must place greater emphasis to human rights teachings and one of the unseen consequences is the impact of the outlook for children and a serious preoccupation of UNRWA."

The Israeli authorities have not communicated anything new to UNRWA and Ging has not received any further clarifications on the UN school bombing. He stated that UNRWA maintains its position that no Hamas members were in the building and that Israeli interlocutors have not received any counter claim from the Israeli government despite what is being reported in the press.

United Nations partners have said that grave human rights have been committed in the region. They have called for clear recognition of international humanitarian law. The Human Rights Council will be launching an appeal today to investigate human rights violations. The session was requested by countries including Egypt and Cuba.

Holmes said the adoption of the resolution has made the situation different "but not different yet on the ground. What we still desperately need is a full lasting ceasefire." Many civilians continue to perish and suffer injuries in the region underscoring both sides of the conflict are ignoring the UN ceasefire resolution. Holmes said few of the crossings and borders have been opened to allow for dual citizens to leave the region and to allow for food aid.

UNRWA is still relatively restricted. WFP estimates 80 percent of the population are now in need of food aid. Medical and other health staff are completely overstretched and unable to get to all the newly injured. Most of Gaza is without power, yet there have been some electric repairs. Water and sewage remain grave concerns.

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