The Age/Edith M Lederer/23.3.2024
Whilst the USA pretends to want a ceasefire it continues to arm Israel depending on Russia and China to continue the veto – all so Biden can get the Arab vote in this year’s election – shameful to the extreme – Mark
New York: Russia and China on Friday vetoed a US-sponsored United Nations resolution calling for “an immediate and sustained ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than 2 million hungry Palestinians.
The vote in the 15-member Security Council saw 11 members vote in favour, three against and one abstain.
Before the vote, Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow supported an immediate ceasefire, but he questioned the language in the resolution and accused US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield of “misleading the international community” for “politicised” reasons.
Thomas-Greenfield had said she was optimistic that the draft resolution would be approved.
Unlike a previous draft, the proposal voted on had no direct link to the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. However, it supported diplomatic efforts “to secure such a ceasefire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”
The Security Council has already adopted two resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, but none calling for a ceasefire.
Russia and China vetoed a US-sponsored resolution in late October calling for pauses in the fighting to deliver aid, protection of civilians and a halt to arming Hamas. They said it did not reflect global calls for a ceasefire.
The US, Israel’s closest ally, has vetoed three resolutions demanding a ceasefire, the most recent an Arab-backed measure supported by 13 council members with one abstention on February 20.
The vote took place as Blinken, America’s top diplomat, was on his sixth mission to the Middle East since October 7, discussing a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release, as well as post-war scenarios.
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