Russia, China veto U.S. bid on Gaza ‘ceasefire’ at UN Security Council
The draft had stopped short of explicitly demanding that Israel immediately end its campaign in Gaza; Moscow accused Washington of a ‘hypocritical spectacle’ that does not pressure Israel; Beijing said the draft ‘dodged the most central issue’
Russia and China on Friday vetoed a U.S.led draft resolution at the Security Council on a ceasefire in Gaza, with Moscow accusing Washington of a “hypocritical spectacle” that does not pressure Israel.
The United States, Israel’s main ally which has vetoed previous ceasefire calls, put forward the resolution which for the first time would have supported “the imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire” and condemned the October 7 attack by Hamas.
Russia and China exercised their vetoes, Algeria also voted against and Guyana abstained. The other 11 Security Council members voted in favour, including permanent members France and Britain.
Russia’s Ambassador, Vasily Nebenzia, said that the United States was doing nothing to rein in Israel, mocking Washington for speaking of a ceasefire after “Gaza has been virtually wiped off the face of the Earth”.
“The American product is exceedingly politicised, with the sole purpose being to play to voters and throw them a bone in the form of some kind of a mention of a ceasefire Gaza,” he said.
The resolution will “ensure the impunity of Israel, whose crimes are not even assessed in the draft”.
The draft had stopped short of explicitly demanding that Israel immediately end its campaign in Gaza. In the delicate language of Security Council resolutions, the draft “determines” the “imperative” of an “immediate and sustained” ceasefire.
The draft linked a ceasefire to ongoing talks, led by Qatar with support from the United States and Egypt, to halt the war in return for Hamas releasing hostages.
China’s representative, Zhang Jun, said the draft “dodged the most central issue, that of a ceasefire” in through its language.
“Nor does it even provide an answer to the question of realising a ceasefire in the short term,” he said.
“ambiguous”
Alternative resolution
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking in Brussels immediately after the vetoes, said France would keep pushing an alternative resolution for a ceasefire.
The Security Council may later on Friday consider another resolution with a more explicit call for an immediate ceasefire.
Speaking before the vote on the U.S. draft, Ambassador ThomasGreenfield said, “By adopting the resolution before us, we can put pressure on Hamas to accept the deal”.