UN Security Council's call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and the release of hostages rejected by the United States
In a tense turn of events, the United Nations Security Council has vetoed a resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, marking the sixth time such a resolution has been vetoed regarding the Gaza war at the UN's most powerful body.
The vote occurred just before the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly, where Gaza will be a major topic. The resolution, which also called on Israel to remove all limitations on relief deliveries to the 2.1 million Palestinians living in Gaza, expressed "deep alarm" over the famine gripping Gaza City and the likelihood of it spreading across the territory without a ceasefire and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid.
The latest resolution tied the ceasefire to the release of hostages, going beyond earlier versions to emphasize the "deepening of suffering" of Palestinian civilians. However, the US vetoed the resolution, citing concerns that the text did not denounce Hamas or recognize Israel's right to defend itself.
Analysts believe the US veto of the latest resolution further highlights US and Israeli isolation on the world stage over the nearly two-year war in Gaza. Morgan Ortagus, a senior U.S. policy adviser, criticized the resolution for failing to condemn Hamas and legitimizing false narratives benefiting Hamas.
Meanwhile, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, expressed disappointment with the US veto of the resolution. UNICEF reported that an average of 28 children die daily in Gaza, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Elsewhere, the UN General Assembly voted last week to support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and urged Israel to commit to a Palestinian state. At the upcoming UN General Assembly, around 142 member states, including France and Saudi Arabia, are expected to declare support for recognizing an independent Palestinian state as part of a non-binding resolution favoring a two-state solution. Notable countries like the USA, Germany, Britain, Canada, and Australia do not plan to extend such recognition at this time.
The European Union is moving to sanction Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. The Trump administration is grateful for the second state visit to the UK, but key differences remain. A tragic incident occurred in Gaza, where a truck carrying displaced people was hit by an Israeli strike.
The UN Security Council held an emergency session on the expansion of the military operation in Gaza, and the US veto of the resolution comes as about half of Americans believe that the Israeli military response in the Gaza Strip has "gone too far," according to a survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The analysts believe that the US veto further highlights US and Israeli isolation on the world stage over the nearly two-year war in Gaza.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
