US Thwarts UN Ceasefire Resolution for Gaza Strip Amidst Allegations of Hamas' Aggression
United States prevents United Nations from voting on truce in Gaza conflict
In a dramatic turn of events at the United Nations Security Council, the US decisively blocked a resolution aimed at instating a ceasefire in the embattled Gaza Strip. The draft, backed by 14 other countries, also pressed for unimpeded humanitarian aid access and the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas.
The US, however, was quick to castigate the proposal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concerns over a text that supposedly drew "false equivalences" between Israel and Hamas without acknowledging Israel's right to self-defense. The frustration was echoed by the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Dorothy Shea, who believed the resolution might hinder diplomatic efforts toward a sustainable truce and instead, empower Hamas.
The draft resolution demanded an "immediate, unconditional, and sustainable ceasefire" acceptable to all parties and called for lifting restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza due to the dire humanitarian situation there. US Secretary of State Rubio labelled the resolution as "counterproductive."
The US veto, according to sources, was chiefly motivated by the resolution's failure to condemn Hamas or demand its disarmament and withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Critics quickly pointed out that the US, in its decision, ignored the catastrophic humanitarian crisis unfolding in the coastal region.
France, China, and Hamas — the primary instigator of the conflict — were among those who criticized the US move. In light of this, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, announced plans to seek approval from the General Assembly to proceed with the resolution. However, Israel's Ambassador, Danny Danon, dismissed these plans as futile, arguing that such actions would hinder – rather than improve – humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Sources: ntv.de, rog/AFP
- Gaza Strip
- International Conflicts
- Cessation of Hostilities
- UN Security Council
- The US' employment of the veto at the United Nations Security Council over the proposed ceasefire resolution for the Gaza Strip has sparked controversy in political circles, as critics accuse it of prioritizing military policies over humanitarian concerns, particularly in war-and-conflicts contexts.
- Amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, the US' refusal to condemn Hamas in the UN resolution has raised questions about the alignment of its community policy with general news reporting on the importance of addressing all parties involved, especially those responsible for aggression, in order to achieve lasting peace.
