US Defies Global Call, Vetoes UN Resolution for Gaza Ceasefire
United States vetoes United Nations draft resolution calling for an immediate truce in Gaza conflict
Step aside, world! That's the United States' message after it thwarted a UN Security Council resolution aimed at bringing a ceasefire to the embattled Gaza Strip. All 14 other council members backed the proposal, but Washington kicked it to the curb, citing a "false equivalence" between Israel and Hamas.
The resolution pleaded for an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and unhindered access for humanitarian aid. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio branded the resolution "counterproductive," arguing it would undermine diplomatic efforts and bolster Hamas.
The draft also demanded the release of all hostages held by terror groups, including Hamas. The catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza called for the lifting of restrictions on aid imports. However, Rubio snubbed the proposal as pointless. As the resolution crumbled, the US sent a "strong signal."
Critics piled on, with France, China, and Hamas itself condemning the US move. Israel's Ambassador to the UN dismissed plans for a vote in the UN General Assembly as a waste of energy, arguing the resolution would hamper humanitarian aid rather than facilitate it.
The US accused the resolution of a failure to condemn Hamas and its actions, which it sees as the core of the conflict. Similarly, it questioned why the resolution did not demand that Hamas disarm and vacate Gaza, an essential step in achieving peace. The US maintains that the resolution's language unfairly draws a parallel between Israel and Hamas, a terrorist organization.
Ordinarily, resolutions are agreed upon by all UN Security Council members unless there is a veto. However, this time, the US flexed its muscle and ensured the resolution went nowhere. The United States has a history of supporting Israel, often vetoing resolutions deemed unfavorable to the Jewish state.
RESOURCES:- Gaza Strip- Wars and Conflicts- Ceasefire- UN Security Council
INSIGHTS:1. The US vetoed the resolution due to its perceived lack of condemnation of Hamas and its actions, and its failure to demand that Hamas disarm and leave Gaza.2. The US believed the resolution would undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire that reflects the realities on the ground.3. The US argued that the resolution drew a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas, and that it would reward Hamas's unwillingness to accept previous ceasefire proposals.
- The US's veto of the UN Security Council resolution to bring a ceasefire in Gaza illustrates America's employment policy, consistently supporting Israel, often employing vetoes against resolutions perceived as unfavorable to the Jewish state.
- The US's stance on the Gaza resolution, critiquing it for its lack of equitable policy towards Israel and Hamas, falls under the umbrella of US foreign policy engagement in war-and-conflicts, particularly in relation to general news issues such as ceasefires and the Gaza Strip.
