The UN Security Council on Wednesday called for an urgent and lasting humanitarian pause in the fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip for “a sufficient number of days” to allow humanitarian aid access, Reuters reported.

The 15-member council broke the deadlock when four failed attempts last month to take steps to pass a resolution that also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas.

The United States, Russia and Great Britain, which have veto power in the Council, abstained from Wednesday’s vote on the Malta-drafted resolution. The remaining 12 deputies voted for the resolution.

A last-minute attempt by Russia to amend the resolution to include a call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire leading to an end to hostilities failed.

The deadlock in the Council centered mainly on whether to call for a humanitarian pause or a ceasefire.

Usually, a truce is considered less formal and shorter than a cease-fire, which must be agreed upon by the parties to the conflict.

The United States supported the pauses, while Russia insisted on a ceasefire.

• Read also: What is the difference between truce and truce?

The resolution does not condemn Hamas

Wednesday’s resolution also did not condemn the actions of Hamas, a point of contention for Israel’s allies the United States and Britain.

The council called for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days to ensure … full, rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access.”

It was the council’s fifth attempt to take action after Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, which rules Gaza, by striking the enclave of 2.3 million people from the air, imposing a siege and invading it with soldiers and tanks.

The Security Council tried four times in two weeks in October to take action. Russia twice fell short of the minimum required number of votes, the United States vetoed a resolution drafted by Brazil, and Russia and China vetoed a resolution drafted by the United States.

The resolution adopted on Wednesday calls for respect for international law, especially the protection of civilians, especially children. It also calls on all parties not to deprive civilians in Gaza of the basic services and humanitarian aid necessary for their survival, and welcomes the initial limited aid deliveries but calls for them to be increased.

Following an impasse in the Security Council last month, the 193-member UN General Assembly on October 28 adopted by 121 votes in favor a resolution drafted by Arab states that called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and demanded aid to the besieged Gaza Strip and the protection of civilians.