The UN Security Council is still at a standstill in spite of the growing horrors occurring in Gaza. A U.S. resolution that “established the importance of an immediate and sustained cease-fire” was vetoed by China and Russia on Friday, March 22.
Eleven of the fifteen members of the Security Council voted in favor, while three members, including Algeria, the council’s Arab representation, abstained. Guyana was the only one to abstain.
The sentence stating that the Security Council “determines the urgency of an immediate and prolonged cease-fire” was a major point of contention during the vote. It wasn’t an obvious “demand” or “request” to end hostilities in the wording.
Amar Bendjama, the ambassador of Algeria, expressed sadness that the text did not include a ceasefire immediately and highlighted why it was necessary to stop more deaths.
Bendjama said since the US circulated its draft over a month ago, Algeria had proposed reasonable edits to achieve a “more balanced and acceptable text”. He acknowledged that some of their proposals had been included but “core concerns remained unaddressed.”
He believed that stressing “steps” to lessen harm to civilians and discussing “operations” amounts to approving Israel’s continued use of violence. If the operation in Rafah proceeds, he continued, the results would be disastrous.
The original draft contained language stating that Israel’s offensive in Rafah “should not advance under existing conditions,” which was removed from the final U.S. draft. Rather, a land invasion into Rafah “would result in severe harm to people and their further relocation, potentially into neighboring countries, and would have serious ramifications for regional peace and security,” the council stated in an opening paragraph.
Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, stated prior to the voting that Moscow is in favor of an immediate cease-fire but took issue with the resolution’s wording, calling it philosophical does not belong in a U.N. resolution.
He charged that U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were “deliberately misled the world community.”
He claimed that by using the word imperative in its resolution, the US was attempting to “market a product” to the Council.
He said, “This is not enough” and that the Council ought to “demand a ceasefire.”
“Captives for the transgressions of others”
According to China’s Ambassador Zhang Jun, the UN Secretary-General and the General Assembly want an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, hence this is the most important thing the Council can do.
China, therefore, voted against the US proposal in order to protect the UN Charter, the “dignity” of the Council, and the opinions of the Arab States.
Ambassador Zhang Jun pointed to the new draft resolution from the 10 elected Council members now circulating and which will reportedly put to the vote in the coming days.
The U.S. has vetoed three resolutions demanding a cease-fire, the most recent an Arab-backed measure supported by 13 council members with one abstention on Feb. 20.
Guyana’s Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett explained that her nation did not vote in favor of the resolution since it did not demand an instant cessation of hostilities.
According to her, the abduction of hostages should not be connected to a truce. “The misdeeds of others should not be used as justification for holding the Palestinian people prisoner.”
The resolution to address Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe and support current diplomatic efforts by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, as well as to call for a quick cease-fire and the release of the captives, was pushed for by US ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.
She claimed that neither China nor Russia was significantly promoting peace.
France reiterated its opposition to an Israeli incursion in Rafah while underlining the urgent need to deliver substantial, much-needed aid into Gaza.
Stressing the significance of realizing a two-state solution to the conflict, French ambassador Nicholas de Rivière said his country will propose an initiative to the Council in this regard.
The Security Council has proposed a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire for Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, and the unconditional release of all hostages.
The resolution also emphasizes the urgent need to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip. Russia’s ambassador, Nebenzia, urged council members to support the resolution, while the US and Chinese ambassadors, Zhang Jun and Zhang Jun, support it.
The US is taking criticism for not being tough enough against Israel, whose ongoing military offensive has created a dire humanitarian crisis for the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza. Israel faces pressure to streamline aid entry, open more land crossings, and reach a cease-fire agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to move the military offensive to Rafah, where 1.3 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety. Palestinian militants killed 1,200 people in an attack on October 7, triggering the latest war in a decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
(UN News)
