By THE INDEPENDENT UG
UNITED NATIONS | Xinhua | The United States exercised its veto power to block a United Nations Security Council draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. The Algerian-drafted resolution received 13 votes in favor among the 15 Security Council members, with the United States voting against it, and Britain abstaining.
For a Security Council draft resolution to be adopted, it needs at least nine votes in favor and no veto from any of the five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States. The resolution would have called for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, condemned attacks against civilians, rejected forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population, and demanded unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, among other provisions.
Before the vote, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, expressed concerns that the Algerian draft could jeopardize ongoing efforts toward a hostage deal. The U.S. was reportedly working on an alternative draft resolution calling for a “temporary cease-fire” based on the condition that all hostages are released.
Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the U.S. of giving Israel a “license to kill” and called on Security Council members to counter the “lawlessness of Washington.” He placed full responsibility for the consequences on the U.S., emphasizing that its veto sends a wrong message and pushes the situation in Gaza into a more dangerous one.
China’s permanent representative, Zhang Jun, expressed strong disappointment and dissatisfaction with the U.S. veto, noting that the claim of interference in diplomatic efforts is untenable. Zhang emphasized the Security Council’s legal responsibility to push for a cease-fire and stated that the U.S. veto cannot muffle the strong call for an end to the war in Gaza.
French UN ambassador Nicholas de Riviere regretted that the draft resolution was not adopted given the disastrous situation on the ground. He highlighted the urgent need for an agreement on a cease-fire to protect civilians and deliver emergency aid, calling the human toll and humanitarian situation in Gaza intolerable.
The Algerian-drafted resolution marks the eighth Gaza-related draft resolution voted on by the Security Council since October 7, 2023, with only two resolutions adopted, neither calling for a cease-fire.
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