Russia and China veto US push for UN action on Israel and Gaza. In a significant diplomatic standoff, Russia and China exercised their veto power to thwart a United States-led effort at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) seeking action on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The U.S. resolution aimed to secure humanitarian pauses in fighting to allow essential aid access, protect civilians, and halt the arming of Hamas and other militant groups in the Gaza Strip.
This move by the United States followed days of intensifying global concern over the deepening humanitarian crisis and the mounting civilian casualties in Gaza.
Notably, Washington had previously vetoed a humanitarian-focused draft resolution from Brazil, contending that more time was required for U.S.-led diplomacy.
The initial U.S. text startled many diplomats with its unequivocal declaration of Israel’s right to self-defense and a demand for Iran to cease exporting arms to militant organizations.
However, the final text presented for a vote exhibited a noticeable moderation in tone.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, expressed her disappointment following the double veto and underscored the need to persist in diplomatic efforts despite the setback.
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As Russia and China veto US push for UN action on Israel and Gaza,iIt is noteworthy that the United States has traditionally shielded its ally, Israel, at the United Nations, making this recent proposal a rare departure from this stance.
During the vote, ten UNSC members supported the U.S. resolution, while the United Arab Emirates voted against it, and Brazil and Mozambique abstained from voting.
China’s Ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, critiqued the U.S. resolution, asserting that it failed to reflect the resounding global calls for a ceasefire and an end to the hostilities.
He emphasized that at this critical juncture, a ceasefire is not merely a diplomatic term but a matter of life and death for countless civilians.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has consistently appealed for a humanitarian ceasefire to alleviate the escalating crisis.
Following the deadlock within the Security Council, the 193-member UN General Assembly is scheduled to vote on a draft resolution, put forward by Arab states, calling for a ceasefire.
Unlike the UNSC, the General Assembly does not grant veto power to any country. While these resolutions are non-binding, they carry substantial political weight.
In response to an October 7 attack that claimed the lives of 1,400 people, Israel has pledged to eradicate Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza.
Israel’s response has included aerial bombardments, a blockade on the enclave’s 2.3 million inhabitants, and preparations for a potential ground invasion.
Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities have reported a death toll of more than 6,500.
Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the U.S. of submitting a resolution that effectively sanctioned an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza, a move he argued would result in the continued loss of Palestinian lives, particularly children.
After the double veto, the Security Council considered a competing resolution drafted by Russia, which called for a humanitarian ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israel’s directive for Gaza civilians to relocate south in anticipation of a ground assault.
This Russian resolution, however, garnered only four votes, falling far short of the requisite support, which mandates at least nine affirmative votes with no opposition from the permanent UNSC members (the United States, France, Britain, Russia, and China) for adoption.
This was Russia’s second attempt to pass a resolution, with only five council members supporting a similar text on October 16.
In the wake of these developments, the ten elected members of the Security Council are now engaged in crafting a new draft resolution, as noted by Malta’s Ambassador to the UN, Vanessa Frazier.
The situation remains tense, and the world watches closely as diplomatic efforts continue to address the Israel-Hamas conflict and its dire humanitarian consequences.
“This crisis is also gripped by a growing risk of a regional spill over. This demands our undivided attention,” she said. “We have the duty and the obligation to act.”
