UPDATE: Israel-Gaza crisis: US vetoes another resolution for 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire'
New York, US (PANA) - The US on Tuesday vetoed the latest resolution on Gaza at the UN Security Council put forward on behalf of Arab States by Algeria, demanding “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties”.
The voting was 13 in favour, 1 abstention (the UK) with the US voting against.
Algerian Ambassador Amar Benjama said the draft called for a ceasefire, but the Council had failed once again to rise to the calls and aspirations of the people of the world.
This failure does not absolve the Council of its mandate and the international community of its obligations, he said.
“It is high time for the aggression to end” and for humanitarian assistance to reach all those in need across Gaza, Ambassador Benjama said.
The current situation requires everyone to provide protection to the Palestinian people and put an end to the historic injustice they have suffered, the ambassador said.
The people of his region have always looked to the Security Council. However, it has failed them once again.
“Our message for you today is that the international community should respond to the calls for ending the killing of Palestinians by calling for an immediate ceasefire,” he said.
“All those impeding such calls should review their policies and calculations because wrong decisions today will have a cost on our region and our world tomorrow. This cost will be violence and instability.”
Speaking after the vote, US Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said her delegation is willing to engage constructively with Council members on her delegation’s draft resolution.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Washington continues to provide Israel with “a licence to kill”. Algeria organised discussions in good faith to produce its draft resolution, but the US in effect issued an ultimatum, asserting that the draft was dangerous as it would obstruct ongoing talks.
Indeed, Washington continues to insist the Council not interfere in the US plans, he said. The US has vetoed similar draft resolutions in the past.
“We call on the Council membership to counter the lawlessness of Washington,” he said. “Public opinion will no longer forgive the Security Council for inaction.”
Ambassador Zhang Jun of China said the use of the veto by the US sends the wrong message, pushing Gaza further into crisis at a time when Palestinians are struggling on the brink of death.
It is totally untenable of the US to argue that the draft jeopardises ongoing talks. Meanwhile, the violence is destabilising the entire region, and the Council must act quickly to stop the carnage, he said.
The Council must uphold international order and demand a ceasefire, which is its legal responsibility. The Council must not stop its work because of the veto, he said, calling on the international community to give Palestinians a chance to live and to provide justice.
Nicholas de Rivière, the Ambassador of France, regretted to note that the draft resolution could not be adopted, given the catastrophic situation on the ground.
“There is an extreme urgency to conclude, without further delay, an agreement on a ceasefire which finally guarantees the protection of all civilians and the massive entry of emergency aid” he said.
“The human toll and humanitarian situation in Gaza are intolerable and Israeli operations must end,” he stressed
Japanese Ambassador Kazuyuki Yamazaki said “a humanitarian ceasefire needs to be realised promptly in such a way as to ensure a conducive environment for sufficient humanitarian assistance activities as well as to lead to the release of the remaining hostages".
Only then could there be a sustainable ceasefire.
“Based on this position, we call on all the parties concerned to act immediately from a humanitarian viewpoint,” he said.
The US Ambassador said her delegation is working on a hostage deal. Although gaps remain, the key elements are on the table, so if an arrangement were reached it would involve a sustainable peace.
"Sometimes hard diplomacy takes more time than any of us might like,” she said. “Any action this Council takes should help and not hinder these sensitive ongoing negotiations.”
She said the Algerian resolution would not bring about a durable peace, but instead extend the hostages’ captivity and the humanitarian crisis.
-0- PANA MA 20Feb2024
