Vetoed
US demand for a ceasefire in the Gaza war fails in the UN Security Council
United Nations flag: The UN Security Council voted in favor of the US draft resolution on an “immediate ceasefire” in connection with the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip
© Thomas Imo / Imago Images
For months, the UN Security Council has been divided on the issue of a ceasefire in the Gaza war. Israel’s protecting power, the USA, is now changing course. But two other veto powers are standing in the way.
The demand for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that is binding under international law has failed again in the UN Security Council. Russia and China vetoed the resolution introduced by the USA on Friday in New York in the most powerful body of the United Nations. Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said the US government’s proposed resolution was half-hearted and did not call for a ceasefire clearly enough.
The committee’s previous efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip had failed due to resistance from the veto power USA, Israel’s closest ally. With the now rejected resolution, the USA also changed course towards Israel on the UN stage. In view of the increasing number of civilian casualties and the threat of famine in parts of the sealed-off coastal strip, the USA had recently increased its pressure on Israel.
The US resolution will “clearly support ongoing diplomatic efforts” aimed at “achieving an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of a hostage agreement,” Nate Evans said before the vote. Evans is the spokesman for UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
War in the Gaza Strip with 32,000 deaths so far
The war in the Gaza Strip was triggered by the unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7th by Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the USA and the EU. According to Israeli information, around 1,160 people were killed and around 250 others were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. Israel assumes that there are still around 130 hostages held by Hamas and other militant Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip. 33 of them are presumed dead.
Since the Hamas attack, Israel has taken massive military action in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, almost 32,000 people have been killed so far.