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Palestinian factions denounce US veto in UN ceasefire resolution

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Dec 2023 16:02
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Shortly after Washington vetoed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Palestinian factions assert that the US veto demonstrated direct complicity in Israeli atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza.

Alternate Representative of the US for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations Robert A. Wood raises his hand during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Gaza, at UN headquarters in New York City on December 8, 2023. (AFP)

Palestinian officials and the Hamas movement criticized the United States for using its veto power to alone block a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

The move was described as "disastrous" and "a disgrace."

Hamas asserted that the US veto demonstrated direct complicity in Israeli atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza. Izzat al-Risheq, a member of Hamas' Political Bureau, labeled the US veto as "unethical and inhumane."

"Washington’s decision to scuttle the draft resolution points to its active and direct participation with the occupying Israeli regime in the ongoing massacre of our people, and committing more massacres and ethnic cleansing," al-Risheq said.

Hamas also thanked the countries that voted in favor of the resolution, notably Russia, China, and Arab nations.

On its part, al-Mujahideen Movement pointed out that Washington's use of the veto in the Security Council indicates that it has become a danger to global security and humanity as a whole.

Palestinian ambassador: US' veto 'disastrous'

Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, expressed strong criticism for the UN Security Council's inability to pass a resolution urging a ceasefire in Gaza, deeming it "beyond regrettable" and "disastrous."

"Instead of allowing this council to uphold its mandate by finally making a clear call, after two months, that atrocities must end, the war criminals are given more time to perpetuate their crimes. How can this be justified? How can anyone justify the slaughter of an entire people?" he said.

Mansour emphasized his plea for a ceasefire, stating that each additional day translates to more lives lost and an alarming pace of casualties, unprecedented in modern history.

US uses veto power, blocks UNSC resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire

The United States on Friday vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, "diplomatically" shielding its ally.

The US deputy representative at the UN, Robert Wood, said the resolution was "divorced from reality" and "would have not moved the needle forward on the ground."

According to current and former #US officials, the Biden administration has requested authorization from #Congress to sell "Israel's" Merkava tanks 45,000 shells to be used in the Israeli genocide against Palestinians.

Concerns over the use of American munitions that have… pic.twitter.com/UCgmDDwxhs
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 9, 2023

Thirteen Security Council members voted in favor of a brief draft resolution, presented through the UAE, while Britain abstained. The vote came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked the UN charter’s Article 99 for it on Wednesday.

"The United Arab Emirates is deeply disappointed," said the representative of the UAE who had sponsored the resolution calling for a ceasefire.

"Regrettably... this council is unable to demand a humanitarian ceasefire."

The US using its veto comes after the Palestinian Health Ministry revealed that the death toll from the Israeli aggression on Gaza has risen to 17,487 martyrs, over 70% of whom are children and women, with 56,400 citizens injured with various injuries since the launch of the Israeli war on October 7.