Russia and China vetoed the U.S. proposal, but critics say it stopped short of calling for an end to Israel's war on Gaza.
The United Nations Security Council failed to pass a US draft resolution calling for, but not demanding, a cease-fire in Israel's continuing war in Gaza, after two permanent members chose to veto it.
The draft, submitted to the Council on Friday, received 11 votes in favor, three against (Russia, China and Algeria) and one abstention from Guyana.
Russia and China both vetoed a resolution condemning the October 7 attack by Hamas, calling for “the need for an immediate and lasting ceasefire.”
The Russian government accused the US of a “hypocritical show” of not putting pressure on Israel.
Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia said the draft was highly politicized and was a “de facto document” for Israel to launch a military operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city, where more than 1.5 million Palestinians have fled. It includes a green light.
Nebenzia said there was no call for a ceasefire in the resolution and accused the US leadership of “deliberately misleading the international community.”
Zhang Jun, the Chinese representative, said the draft had “vague” language and “avoids the most central issue of a ceasefire.”
“Nor does it provide an answer to the question of whether a ceasefire will be achieved in the short term.”
There is no “demand” for a ceasefire.
Although the United States touted the bill as calling for a ceasefire, critics pointed out that the draft does not call for an end to the war.
The proposal, unlike an earlier resolution vetoed by the U.S. government that called for an unconditional ceasefire, calls for a “mandatory” for “an immediate and lasting ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides.” I support it.
The US draft resolution also links the ceasefire to ongoing talks to secure a ceasefire agreement aimed at the release of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
“It says a ceasefire is important. It doesn't seem like it's calling for it,” Al Jazeera diplomatic correspondent James Bays, who obtained a copy of the draft resolution, said earlier this week.
“And it also directly links this ceasefire to the release of remaining prisoners held by Hamas and other groups in Gaza.”
After Friday's vote, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russia had prioritized politics over progress by using its veto, saying neither Russia nor China had done anything meaningful to promote peace. He added that he had not.
alternative resolution
The United States, Israel's closest ally, has vetoed three resolutions calling for a ceasefire, the latest on February 20 with 13 councilors supporting it and one abstaining. It was a measure to support the Arabs.
The day before, the United States circulated a counter-resolution, but major changes were made during negotiations leading up to this Friday's vote.
Initially it was to support a temporary ceasefire with the release of all hostages, but an earlier draft called for supporting international efforts to reach a ceasefire as part of the hostage deal.
On Friday, Algeria's Ambassador to the United Nations Amal Bendjama said thousands of innocent lives could have been saved had the Security Council passed the February resolution. More than 32,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since the war began last October.
These numbers represent lives and “shattered hopes,” Bendjama said, adding that the U.S. document made no mention of Israeli responsibility for their deaths.
Meanwhile, the 10 elected members of the Security Council have drafted their own resolution, calling for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire during the holy month of Ramadan starting March 10 as a “permanent” “respected by all parties leading to a sustainable ceasefire''.
It also called for the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” and stressed the urgent need to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that France would also work on a new United Nations resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“Following Russia and China's vetoes a few minutes ago, we will resume our work on the French resolution in the Security Council and work with our US, European and Arab partners to reach an agreement. ” President Macron said at the end. Scenes from the European Union Summit held in Brussels.