The United States once again exercised its veto power on Tuesday evening to block another ceasefire resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
The resolution, moved jointly by Algeria and a group of Arab nations, saw 13 votes in favour, one abstention (Britain) and a lone negative vote from the United States.
French Ambassador Nicholas de Rivière expressed regret over the resolution’s failure, given the catastrophic situation on the ground.
“There is an extreme urgency to conclude, without further delay, an agreement on a ceasefire that finally guarantees the protection of all civilians and the massive entry of emergency aid,”
French Ambassador Nicholas de Rivière
US vetoes and UK abstains a UN call for ceasefire in Gaza – Everyone apart from these countries support an immediate ceasefire
Political commentators globally are outraged after US president Biden lamenting the Israeli charge on Gaza, yet not backing up his rhetoric with action.
Similarly, The United Kingdom agains abstained from voting, knowing the US has to veto, allows the uk to abstain, this is despite the condemnation by the Labour leader Keir Starmer and Lord Cameron distinctly using the words ‘immediate ceasefire’ for the first time.
Arabs countries voice their frustrations
Algerian Ambassador Amar Benjama, who introduced the resolution, voiced frustration over the Security Council’s inertia, declaring,
“No excuse can rationalise the Security Council’s inertia, and all endeavors must converge to halt the ongoing carnage in Gaza.”
Algerian Ambassador Amar Benjama
Benjama warned that “we are rapidly approaching a critical juncture where the call to halt the machinery of violence will lose its significance. Today, every Palestinian is a target for death, extermination, and genocide”.
Why did the US veto the UN resolution?
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield justified the veto, stating, “Sometimes hard diplomacy takes more time than any of us might like. Any action this council takes should help and not hinder these sensitive ongoing negotiations.”
She said the United States was introducing an alternative draft resolution, emphasising Washington’s commitment to a hostage deal and the pursuit of sustainable peace.
“We’re at a pivotal and critical moment. Let us commit to doing this the right way at the right time,” stressed Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. “That’s why the US is proposing a separate resolution that would work towards a temporary ceasefire based on the formula that all hostages are released,”
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
She went on to add and said. It would also condemn Hamas, she added. Which is a necessity in order to appease Israel.
Russia and China condemn the US veto
“The US, accusing it of providing Israel with a licence to kill”.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia
He asserted that the US obstructed ongoing talks by vetoing the draft resolution and urged Security Council members to counter what he termed as “the lawlessness of Washington”.
“Public opinion will no longer forgive the Security Council for inaction,” he emphasised.
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun criticised the US veto, stating it sends the wrong message, pushing Gaza further into crisis. He urged the council to act quickly to stop the violence, emphasising the need to uphold international order and demand a ceasefire, calling it the council’s legal responsibility.
“The council must uphold international order and demand a ceasefire, which is its legal responsibility. The council must not stop its work because of the veto,” urged Ambassador Zhang.
In a joint statement, the Arab group in the UN decried the Security Council’s inertia. “Throughout this process, we have heard calls to give time to a parallel track; however, almost one month after the ICJ orders, signs of hope are still absent for improvement on the situation in Gaza,” they said.