Tensions rise as the US vetoes a UN Security Council resolution intended for an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza while highlighting aid distribution challenges amid the ongoing conflict.
US Blocks UN Resolution for Immediate Gaza Ceasefire
US Blocks UN Resolution for Immediate Gaza Ceasefire
The US has vetoed a UN resolution aimed at establishing a ceasefire in Gaza, intensifying international tensions.
The United States has exercised its veto power in the UN Security Council, blocking a draft resolution that called for an “unconditional and permanent” ceasefire in Gaza. This resolution garnered support from all other 14 member states, which also sought the immediate release of hostages and the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid. US Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, asserted that the resolution would jeopardize existing diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire. She emphasized that the UN had yet to label Hamas as a terrorist organization, a designation recognized by the US, UK, and EU.
"We cannot endorse any initiative that does not explicitly condemn Hamas or call for its disarmament," Shea remarked, voicing the US's stance. This veto comes amidst alarming reports from the UN stating that over two million residents in Gaza are facing starvation due to a prolonged Israeli blockade on food and aid shipments that lasted 11 weeks.
Moreover, the distribution of aid has shifted to The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a group supported by the US and Israel that aims to replace other NGOs and support agencies in the region. However, recent incidents have raised concerns regarding the safety and effectiveness of aid distribution on routes leading to GHF-operated sites in Gaza.
British Ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, expressed her country's support for the resolution, stating that the current crisis in Gaza is intolerable and that a ceasefire is essential for achieving a long-term political resolution. She urged Israel to lift its restrictions on aid immediately, allowing the UN and other agencies to function efficiently to save lives and alleviate suffering.
The backdrop of this diplomatic standoff is Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza, which were initiated in response to Hamas's attacks on October 7, resulting in around 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages taken. The health ministry in Gaza has reported an escalating toll, with the death count since March 18 reaching at least 54,000, including over 4,201 individuals killed since Israel renewed its offensive.
