NEW YORK: The US has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a “humanitarian pause” in the raging Israel- Palestine conflict, Western media reported on Wednesday.
12 out of 15 UNSC members voted in favor of the resolution tabled by Brazil, while the United Kingdom and Russia abstained. The US was the only vote against the resolution, but as one of the UNSC’s five permanent members its vote counts as a veto, AFP reported.
US Vetoes UN Resolution on Israel-Palestine War
Addressing the UNSC, Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour warned that “killing more Palestinian people will never make Israel safer.”
Human Rights Watch denounced the United States veto after the development. Similarly, Brazilian Foreign Ministry expressed regret over blocking of the vote at UNSC. In a statement, the Ministry said that Brazil considers it vital for the world to establish a ceasefire and also resume the peace process.
Earlier, the UNSC rejected a Russian-backed resolution Monday night that denounced violence against the civilian population in Gaza. The resolution also called for a humanitarian ceasefire in the conflict between Palestinians and Israel, Western media reported. According to AP, only four nations joined Moscow in voting for the resolution seeking a ceasefire in the war between Palestinians and Israel. Four countries voted against the resolution, including the US while 6 nations abstained.
Russia’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, has urged support for the resolution to reply to the “extraordinary exacerbation” of the situation, quoting the UNSC’s inaction since the Oct. 7 operation by Hamas.
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The resolution received 5 votes in favor and 4 votes against, along with 6 abstentions. A resolution requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the 5 permanent members – Russia, the US, France, China, and Britain to approve.
“Today, the whole world waited with bated breath for the UNSC to take measures to put an end to the fight, but the delegations of the Western nations have fundamentally stomped on the expectations,” Russia’s UN envoy, told the UNSC after the vote.
Moscow proposed the one-page draft text on Friday, which called for humanitarian aid access, the release of hostages, and the safe evacuation of the civilian population in need. The text denounced violence against civilians and all forms.
