UNITED NATIONS, UNITED STATES – The United Nations Security Council was poised to vote on a much-delayed resolution on the Israel-Hamas war on Friday, after Washington signaled its support following opposition to earlier draft proposals.

After days of delays, the latest draft version, obtained by AFP, calls for “urgent steps to immediately enable safe and unhindered humanitarian access and also to create the conditions for a sustained cessation of hostilities.” It does not call for an immediate end to the fighting.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters Thursday evening: “If the resolution is presented as is, we can support it.”

She denied that the draft resolution had been watered down, saying it was “very strong” and “fully supported by the Arab group.”

The diplomatic clashes at United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, which led to the vote being postponed several times this week, came against a backdrop of worsening conditions in Gaza and a rising death toll.

“Some of this language is a little absurd,” said Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group.

“Other council members will have to decide whether to accept a weak text in the interest of reaching an agreement, or whether it is simply too weak to bother with.”

He noted in particular that Russia, which exercises a veto, must decide “whether it can support a draft that ultimately contradicts its long-standing argument that a ceasefire is essential.”

The UAE supports the resolution, which has been amended in several key areas to ensure compromise, according to the draft version seen by AFP.

“ACUTE FOOD INSECURITY”

It calls on all sides to “permit and facilitate the use of all… routes to and throughout the Gaza Strip, including border crossings…, for the provision of humanitarian assistance.”

Israel bombed a newly opened aid crossing on Thursday, Hamas authorities said.

“We work every day to increase humanitarian assistance on the ground,” added Thomas-Greenfield.

Members of the 15-member council have been struggling for days to find common ground on the resolution, as criticism of the body’s lack of action since the start of the war has mounted.

Israel, backed by its ally the United States, has opposed the term “ceasefire,” and Washington has twice used its veto to defeat resolutions supported by a majority of other members.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that there would be no ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas was “eliminated.”

The diplomatic row came as the UN hunger monitoring system warned: “Every single person in war-torn Gaza is expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity over the next six weeks.”

According to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures, Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, killing about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 250 people hostage.

Israel responded with relentless air and ground warfare. The Hamas government’s media office in the Gaza Strip said on Wednesday that at least 20,000 people were killed, including 8,000 children and 6,200 women.