If the US was serious about ceasefire, it will not have vetoed multiple council resolutions. If the US is serious about ceasefire please vote on the other resolution to bring about ceasefire so that hostages will be released on a later date – China
Emmanuel Ukudolo I Friday, March 22, 2024
NEW YORK – A resolution sponsored by the United States at the United Nations Security Council, UNSC failed to sail through today following veto by Russia and China, two permanent members of the UNSC.
When the resolution, “to determine immediate and sustained ceasefire” in Gaza was put to vote, seven(7) members voted favourably , Russia and China voted against it while Guyana abstained.
“11 in favour, 3 against, 1 abstention. It has not been adopted”, President of the council told those present during the session.
Veto will give Hamas power to walk away from Qatar deal- US
Speaking on outcome of the resolution, US representatives to the UN, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russia did not condemn Hamas attack on Israel in October 7, for burning people alive and for raping people and taking people hostage, adding that October 7, 2023 remains the deadliest attach on Israel since the holocaust.
She described Russia’s veto as cynical and heady, and that Russia is opposed to the UN security council resolution penned by the United States because “they want to see us fail”.
According to her, Russia’s decision gives Hamas the opportunity to walk away from the US, Qatar and Egypt deal on the table in Qatar.
“We will continue to work on our deal and UNSC members will make that deal possible.
Earlier before the votes were taken, she said the United States was interested in an immediate and sustained ceasefire and that part of the deal was immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas and allowance of humanitarian aids to go into Gaza.
She said, the US, Egypt and Qatar were already working on immediate and sustained ceasefire to address humanitarian concern in Gaza and that the UN Security Council has an immediate role to play.
She told members that accepting the resolution will put pressure on Hamas to accept the deal and that 100 hostages including a 1 year old child are still being held captive.
She said Israel is currently facing a barrage of missile attacks from Hamas, which she said set the Middle East into conflict. She said the US sponsored resolution will alleviate suffering and bring an end to the conflict.
“I urge members to vote yes, it demands protection of civilians and release of hostages as we work to eliminate Hamas”, adding that the text is inclusive of UN resolutions. “It will help to make a ceasefire in Gaza possible, it will be a mistake not to adopt it”, she warned.
Palestine almost wiped out due to US veto – Russia
Russia on the other hand described the US sponsored resolution as a hypocritical spectacle.
Earlier, the Russian representative, Vasily Nebenzya referred to previous resolutions of the UNSC that could have halted ongoing genocide in Gaza but were all vetoed by the United States.
“This time, they have repeated their justification that UNSC should not to stand on the way of diplomacy of US. Now, 6 months after, GAza has been whipped out, now Washington has recognised the need for ceasefire”, he said adding that the US sluggish approach has led to death of 32, 000 lives and children, but that Russia will not allow the United States to use the UN as an instrument of destruction.
He argued that the UNSC has a mechanism to demand ceasefire and compel compliance. He described the text of US-sponsored resolution as designed to deliberately mislead the UN, and that it is focused on buying time for Israel to continue with the grand genocide in Palestine.
“ It is an empty rhetorical exercise, it is politicised, the purpose to play to the voters and throw them a bone in the form of confirmation of a ceasefire in Gaza. The US draft will in effect give green light for Israel to mount ground oppression on Rafah.
“We will no longer tolerate pointless resolutions which do not call for ceasefire, which has led us to nowhere. It should not pass, I will be surprised to see members who see deficiency in the US draft to raise their hands, if you do this it will be shameless and total disgrace. How will you see yourself in the Middle East.
“We will not play into their hands. We cannot allow the UNSC to be used as an arm of US. It will free the hand of Israel and it will result in Gaza facing destruction. We will not follow this but we will support what will help to advance peace. Don’t vote for the US draft”, the Russian representative said, adding that a member of UNSC has drafted another UN that demanded ceasefire and unconditional release of hostages. “This is a more balanced resolution and non political. Don’t let this opportunity slip away”, he urged members of the UNSC.
Israel however flowed with the United States, stressing that Israel regards security of civilians as paramount and that it has provided them with aid but that Hamas is using civilian deaths as a strategy.
Resolution is one-sided, we support the next one, Arab position
Palestine sees the resolution as one-sided. “We reject framing what is happening in Gaza as a terrorism issue but a genocide against Palestine”, he said and called on members to support a new UNSC resolution worded by Algeria which will be put up for vote today or tomorrow.
“The other one will call for an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan, we are against forced transfer outside and inside Gaza, we reject attempts to attack Rafah”, Representative of Palestine to the UN, Riyad Mansour said.
He called on the UNSC to stop this war and allow the International community to heal the wounds, start reconstruction and allow Palestinians to go back to where they used to live and to prepare for admission of Palestine into membership.
“We are getting the cooperation of a number of countries”.
He referred to Algerian ambassador which said spoke unequivocally about position of Palestine. He also alluded to Guyana, which did not support the US-sponsored draft. “We share their views in terms of reasoning.
“We will support the general resolution to be voted for today or early morning. It calls for a ceasefire during the month of Ramadan, Algeria proposed it as an expression of the collective Arab position. It has our complete and full support because it is concise. We will be discussing all these matters in meeting of the Arab groups, we are going to ensure we rally international support to ensure Palestine becomes full member of the UN. We will implement the resolution of Arab summit held in Kampala. The Arab Group, Islamic Group and Non-Align groups, 140 nations that have recognised Palestine as a nation. Letter will be sent to UN as part of the memorandum we are submitting. We hope that the Assembly will vote and we get 2/3rd so that Palestine can become a full member of the UN”, he said.
Earlier Representative of Guyana to the UN, Carolyn Rodriguez- Birkette said the US resolution failed to answer questions as to who is doing what in Gaza and that in over 8000 words, the occupying power was mentioned just once.
She said voting in favour of the US sponsored resolution will set a dangerous precedent and make the UNSC complicit in the crimes in Gaza.
“We demand that URNWa will be needed after the ceasefire, it is the lifeline of Palestine, we were not happy that the only mention of UNRWA was the investigation for alleged involvement of members in the war”, he said.
Resolution was licence for Israel to embark on killing spree in Rafah
The Algerian ambassador to the UN, Amar Bend Jama said the resolution fell short due to absence of clear demands for a ceasefire.
“It fails to address immediate ceasefire and much suffering of the Palestinian people. In over 5 months, the conflict has resulted in tragic loss of over 32,000 Palestinian lives, more than 74,000 injuries, 12,000 suffering permanent disability. These are not mere statistics, they represent lives, dreams that have been destroyed.
“These individuals are not lost due to self harm, they were killed, their perpetrators must be held accountable. For us, in the Arab world, Palestinian lives really matter. The text presented does not have clear message of peace, it lacks clear safeguard to prevent further escalation, it is a licence to continue killing the Palestinian civilians, a licence for continued bloodshed.
Algeria and others have pursued reconciliation between Palestina factions because we believe that United Palestine is important for a peaceful future of the Palestinian State. Building a Palestinian state required all efforts, the UNSC council should support this”.
The Middle East needs URNWA
He said “URNWA has assisted in Palestine, Jordan and Syria and that it remains a tool for regional stability.
“ Any resolution undermining URNWA mandate will undermine humanitarian activities”, he said.
“While pursuing diplomacy, the UNSC should impose a ceasefire on Gaza. We urge all UNSC members to priotise immediate ceasefire and take immediate steps to halt the violence and pave the way for sustainable peace process in Palestine. It is within our capacity to act and urgently”, he said.
Resolution deviated from council consensus – China
For Zang Jun, representative of China, the text is ambiguous and does not call for immediate ceasefire and it is a clear deviation from the consensus of council members.
“It set up preconditions for ceasefire which is not different from a greenlight to continued killing which is unacceptable. “It does not state opposition to proposed Rafah offensive by Israel. The members of council now have another draft which is a collective effort and clear on ceasefire in line with UNSC and I support this draft.
“We hope the UNSC will support this and bring about ceasefire. Ee have continually called for release of detained people in Palestine. We reject accusation by US and UK, if the US was serious about ceasefire, it will not have vetoed multiple council resolutions. If the US is serious about ceasefire please vote on the other resolution to bring about ceasefire so that hostages will be released on a later date. We will continue to work with council members and international community to alleviate the suffering of Palestine”, China said..
Malta said the veto prevented the UNSC resolution from going into force. “We believe that permanent ceasefire will bring an end to the suffering in Palestine. “We support ongoing efforts by US, Egypt and Qatar”, representative of Malta said.
