Oman disappointed with failure to issue Gaza ceasefire resolution
The Sultanate of Oman has expressed its regret over the UN Security Council’s failure to issue a resolution for ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the repeated use of veto that hampered the resolution.
The United States used its veto to quash Algeria’s draft resolution at the Security Council on Tuesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and presented rival text that supported a temporary ceasefire.
The vote in the 15-member council was 13-1, with the United Kingdom abstaining, reflecting the strong support from countries around the globe for ending the devastating conflict that has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, Oman reiterated its plea for the international community and the Security Council to facilitate all initiatives to implement an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It urged the Se
curity Council not to stand in the way of peace.
Oman also urged friendly countries to put into practice their positions and statements that support the establishment of peace. It called upon all ‘to translate those positions into a just humanitarian reality’.
Wide condemnation
The Arab League denounced the
United States’ use of veto power to thwart the resolution submitted by Algeria.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-general of the league, expressed his deep regret over the US position. “This is the third time since the outbreak of the crisis in Gaza that the United States has intervened to thwart a draft resolution aimed at a ceasefire, which clearly indicates its political and moral responsibility for the continuation of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.”
Aboul Gheit added that the US position reduces the credibility of the international system and reinforces the state of paralysis witnessed by the UN, “which provides political cover for Israel to continue the aggression, in light of the international inability to stop the heinous crimes committed every day against Palestinian civilians”.
He said that the draft resolution reflected a balanced position that gave priority to the humanitarian aspect and saving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who remain vulnerable to the Israeli killing machine, starvation and disease if the war continues.
Countries like Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Norway, among others, expressed regret at the decision.