China and Russia, together with several Arab nations, blocked a US-led draft resolution at the UNSC on Friday, calling Washington a “typical hypocritical spectacle” and not giving Israel any weight.
The US, Israel’s principal ally, submitted the UNSC resolution recognizing “the imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire” and has vetoed prior ceasefire offers. The plan also criticized the October 7 Hamas incident for the first time.
Algeria opposed, China and Russia vetoed, Guyana abstained. The other eleven permanent UNSC members—including Britain and France—voted yes.
Vasily Nebenzia, the Russian envoy, slammed Washington for proposing a truce after “Gaza has been virtually wiped off the face of the earth” and said it will not slow Israel.
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“We have witnessed a classic hypocritical spectacle,” he remarked.
Nebenzia stated that the US proposal aims to appeal to voters by suggesting a ceasefire in Gaza.
The resolution aims to “ensure Israel’s impunity, as the draft does not even assess its crimes.”
Israel’s Gaza campaign wasn’t required to stop. It “determines” that a “immediate and sustained” ceasefire is “imperative,” per UNSC resolution.
It linked the deal to end hostilities in exchange for Hamas delivering its hostages to the cease-fire talks, which Qatar, Egypt, and the US support.
According to Chinese delegate Zhang Jun, the draft’s “ambiguous” language “dodged the most central issue, that of a ceasefire.”
He said, “It doesn’t even address the question of realizing a ceasefire in the near future.”
Encourage alternate conflict resolution
In Brussels after the vetoes, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country will press for a ceasefire.
Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour said the UNSC may consider a new ceasefire resolution late Friday or early Saturday.
He said the Arab states supported Algeria’s rejection of the US phrasing because it lacked a “crystal-clear call for a ceasefire.”
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield rejected the alternative term because it would compromise prisoner release talks.
Thomas-Greenfield calls Chinese and Russian vetoes “petty” and “cynical.”
She added, “China and Russia just did not want to vote for a resolution that was written by the United States.”
“Let’s face it, despite all the heated rhetoric, we all know that China and Russia are not making any real diplomatic efforts to advance a sustainable peace or to significantly aid in the humanitarian response effort,” the speaker added.
Russia, China, and Algeria think the resolution should bar Israel from Rafah, a refuge for over a million Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Friday to enter Rafah without US help, despite the US’s open resistance.
Israel’s UN envoy, Gilad Erdan, said the US resolution’s vetoes meant “terrorists can continue benefiting from this Council.”
Added, “The Council’s choice to not denounce Hamas is a stain that will never be forgotten.”
Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel on October 7 and killed 1,160 civilians, the bloodiest massacre in Israeli history.
Israel promised to eliminate Hamas, the Gaza Strip’s leader.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports 32,000 civilian deaths since the UN issued a hunger warning.
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