A resolution urging for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, led by the US, has been vetoed by Russia and China at the UN Security Council, amidst escalating tensions and a rising death toll in the region.
A US-led resolution urging for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza was vetoed by Russia and China at the United Nations Security Council, further extending a five-month deadlock over the Israel-Hamas conflict. The resolution, which was backed by eleven council members and linked the ceasefire to a proposed hostage deal, faced objections from Russia and China, who are both permanent members of the council. This development comes amid escalating tensions and ongoing Israeli military activities in Rafah, despite opposition from the US.
The Russian envoy criticized the resolution for not directly demanding a ceasefire, also highlighting past US vetoes on Gaza-related resolutions. Conversely, the US envoy accused Russia and China of not wanting to condemn Hamas. Amidst these diplomatic tensions, Amnesty International called for immediate action from the Security Council to enforce a ceasefire, criticizing the resolution as an attempt by the US to absolve itself of past failures in addressing the conflict.
Separately, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel to discuss increasing humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. With the region on the brink of a famine crisis, as warned by a United Nations report, Blinken’s visit aimed at averting a humanitarian catastrophe. However, diplomatic efforts at the UN Security Council have yet to achieve a consensus on a ceasefire, with previous attempts also vetoed by Russia and China, who described the most recent US proposal as “ambiguous.”
This series of events occurs as the death toll in Gaza has risen to 32,000. In response to the continuing crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his intent to work on a new ceasefire resolution that could gain unanimous support from all permanent UN Security Council members. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, criticized the vetoes by Russia and China, underscoring the pressing need for peace in the region. Despite these setbacks, diplomatic efforts, led by figures such as Blinken, continue in hopes of securing a ceasefire and providing much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.
