UNITED NATIONS: The United States once again vetoed a UN Security Council resolution Thursday that had demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, saying that the effort did not go far enough in condemning Hamas.
The draft, introduced by the 10 elected members of the Council, was backed by 14 of the 15 members. It called for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties,” the release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, and the removal of restrictions on humanitarian aid.
The draft was put forward by the Council’s 10 non-permanent members: Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia.
The 14 other members of the United Nations’ most powerful body voted in favor of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory.
Defending Washington’s veto, US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus said that Washington’s opposition to the resolution “will come as no surprise” as it fails to condemn Hamas or recognize Israel’s right to defend itself.
The text also “wrongly legitimizes the false narratives benefiting Hamas, which have sadly found currency in this Council,” she said.“This resolution also refuses to acknowledge and seeks to return to a failed system that has allowed Hamas to enrich and strengthen itself at the expense of civilians in need,” she said.
Palestinian and Arab representatives criticised Washington’s veto. Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour said the decision showed the Council’s “silence comes at a great cost for its credibility and authority,” adding that the use of veto power “should not be allowed when atrocity crimes are at stake,”
The negative vote was cast as the 15-member Council held its 10,000th meeting against the backdrop of famine spreading in the besieged enclave and an ongoing Israeli offensive to take full control of Gaza City.
Danish Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen said, “Even though this resolution was not adopted today at this 10,000th meeting of the Council, 14 members of this Council have sent a clear message.”
“We want to see an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the urgent lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid. We will continue to work for this for however many Council meetings it may take,” Lassen said.
Algeria’s UN Ambassador Amar Bendjama said, “Palestinian brothers, Palestinian sisters, forgive us. Forgive us, because the world speaks of rights but denies them to Palestinians. Forgive us because our sincere efforts shattered against this wall of rejection.”
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon maintained that Israel needed “no justification” for its war in Gaza, thanking the US for exercising its veto..
The Gaza war erupted on 7 October 2023 after Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups attacked Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, with 48 still in captivity.
The Security Council first met on the crisis the following day, behind closed doors. Since then, the US has vetoed four other resolutions calling for a ceasefire, most recently in June.
According to the UN, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since hostilities began, according to the Gaza health authorities.
South Korea holds the rotating Security Council presidency for the month of September.At the outset of the meeting, representative Sangjin Kim noted that the 10,000 number was both “large and significant, like the challenges that remain before us on this Council’s agenda.” He said that “137 Member States have worked on the Council, often in concert”, over this period.
“Let us bear this in mind as we continue to strive to fulfill the Security Council’s vital mandate.”
The five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – have the right to veto any resolution and all have exercised this power at some time.
The 10 non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly, which comprises all 193 UN Member States, and serve for two-years periods.
Agencies
US vetoes UNSC resolution calling for immediate Gaza ceasefire
