The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council
resolution that would have called for “humanitarian pauses” to
deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza. The failure by the
Council to make its first public intervention on the Israel-Gaza
crisis followed the rejection of a Russian-backed draft on Monday
evening.
While 12 of the Council’s 15 members voted in favour of the
Brazilian-led text, one (United States) voted against, and two
(Russia, and the United Kingdom) abstained.
A ‘no’ vote from any one of the five permanent members of the
Council stops action on any measure put
before it. The body’s permanent members are China, France,
Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Russian amendments
Prior to the vote, two amendments proposed by Russia, calling for
an immediate, durable and full ceasefire, and to stop attacks
against civilians were rejected by the Security Council.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said “the time for diplomatic
metaphors is long gone.” Anyone who did not support Russia’s
draft resolution on this issue bears responsibility for what
happens, he said. The current draft “has no clear call for a
ceasefire” and “will not help to stop the bloodshed”.
He said Russia’s amendments proposed a call to end indiscriminate
attacks on civilians and infrastructure in Gaza and the
condemnation of the imposition of the blockade on the enclave;
and adding a new point for a call for a humanitarian ceasefire.
“If these are not included in the current draft, it would not
help to address the human situation in Gaza and polarize
positions of the international community,” he said.
US rejection
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield explained her country’s
veto in the Council chamber saying “this resolution did not
mention Israel’s right of self-defence.”
“Israel has the inherent sight of self-defence as reflected in
Article 51 of the UN Charter,” she added,
noting that the right was reaffirmed by the Council in previous
resolutions on terrorist attacks, “this resolution should have
done the same.”
She said that though the US could not support the resolution, it
will continue to work closely with all Council members on the
crisis, “just as we will continue to reiterate the need to
protect civilians, including members of the media, humanitarian
workers, and UN officials.”
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield also noted the US is also engaged in
on the ground diplomacy, with the visit of President Joseph
Biden, and other senior officials.
“Yes, resolutions are important, and yes, this Council must speak
out. But the actions we take, must be informed by the facts on
the ground and support direct diplomacy that can save lives,” she
said.
Second public meeting
Today’s meeting was the Council’s second public meeting on the
situation in Gaza. Ambassadors have met, mainly behind closed
doors, on the crisis, including meetings on 8 and 13 October.
The action on the Brazilian-led draft resolution follows the
defeat on Monday evening of a Russian-led text calling for a
humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
That resolution received five votes in favour (China, Gabon,
Mozambique, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates) and four
against (France, Japan, UK, and the US), with six abstentions
(Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Malta, and Switzerland).
