The United States vetoes a ceasefire in Gaza
The United States has vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as Israeli strikes across the enclave have killed nearly 100 Palestinians in the past 24 hours amid a crippling aid blockade.
The resolution also called for the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza, but Washington said it was a non-starter because the ceasefire demand is not directly linked to the release of captives.
The United States was the only country to vote against text urging immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, while the 14 other members of the council voted in favour.
In remarks before the start of the voting, Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea made her country’s opposition to the resolution, put forward by 10 countries on the 15-member council, painfully clear, which she said should come as no surprise.
The United States has taken the very clear position since this conflict began that Israel has the right to defend itself, which includes defeating Hamas and ensuring they are never again in a position to threaten Israel, she told the council.
China’s Ambassador Fu Cong said Israel’s actions have crossed every red line of international humanitarian law and seriously violated UN resolutions. Yet, due to the shielding by one country, these violations have not been stopped or held accountable.
Clearly there is a gathering storm … with so many countries that are standing against the US at the UNSC. It’s only the US that is trying to block this converging and rising current against Israel and what it’s doing in Gaza … Israel is not defending itself in Gaza, Israel is defending its occupation and siege in Gaza, Bishara added.
Despite global demands for a truce, Israel has repeatedly rejected calls for an unconditional or permanent ceasefire, insisting Hamas cannot stay in power, nor in Gaza. It has expanded its military assault in Gaza, killing and wounding thousands more Palestinians and maintaining a brutal blockade on the enclave, only allowing a trickle of tightly-controlled aid in where a famine looms.
