US veto divides West
Allies split on Gaza war as Prince William calls for peace
NEW YORK: The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, drawing stern criticism from allies as President Joe Biden faces pressure to temper support for Israel.
Washington had circulated its own, alternative draft resolution before the vote. Unlike past US efforts, that version does feature the word “ceasefire” – but with no call for it to be enacted immediately.
Tuesday’s resolution, which Algeria had been working on for three weeks, had demanded “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties.” Washington’s veto was “absolutely reckless and dangerous”, said Palestinian representative to the UN Riyad Mansour.
The 15-member Security Council voted 13-1 in favour, of the resolution, with the UK abstaining. The US said a ceasefire would hinder negotiations to free hostages in Gaza.
Washington’s ambassador to the UN, Linda ThomasGreenfield, said proceeding with the vote was “wishful and irresponsible”, adding with reference to the hostage talks: “We cannot support a resolution that would put sensitive negotiations in jeopardy.”
The draft resolution had demanded the release of all hostages taken by Hamas in an attack on October 7.
The veto provoked a chorus of criticism of Washington, not just predictably from China and Russia, but also from US allies including France, Malta and Slovenia.
“We voted for the resolution because the killing of civilians in Gaza must stop. The suffering that Palestinians are enduring is beyond anything a human being should be subjected to,” said Slovenia’s UN envoy Samuel Zbogar.
Hamas said the US veto gave Israel a “green light” for “more massacres”. The vote came as Israel prepares to move into the southern Gaza Strip of Rafah, where some 1.4 million people have fled.
The US draft supports a “temporary ceasefire … based on the formula of all hostages being released”. It also mentions concern for Rafah, stating that “a major ground offensive should not proceed under current circumstances.”
Even Prince William called for an end to the war when he spoke to aid workers in Gaza via video link from the British Red Cross headquarters in London.
“I remain deeply concerned about the terrible human cost of the conflict in the Middle East since the Hamas terrorist attack on 7 October,” he said.
“Too many have been killed. I, like so many others, want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible.”