US veto on Algeria's UN resolution fuels Gaza killings: Bogdanov

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 Feb 2024 08:46
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The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister criticizes the United States for vetoing Algeria's UN resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister during a meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry (TASS)

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov deemed the US veto of Algeria's UN resolution as a license for the ongoing aggression against innocent civilians in Gaza.

The resolution, which sought an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, was supported by 13 out of 15 UN Security Council members, with the UK abstaining.

“This is very negative. This is not the first time that the Americans have used the veto right in order not to pass a resolution that calls for an end to the war. That is, in essence, this is a license to continue killing innocent people in Gaza, nearly 30,000 of whom - women, children - have already died," Bogdanov said.

On the issue of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, especially with the relentless US support, the Russian Deputy FM maintained that this only lessens the chances of releasing the captives.

“Unfortunately, with the obvious support of the Americans, the Israeli army continues to fight. Therefore, these agreements are a proposal to solve very important problems, including the release of hostages, including Russian citizens. The longer this massacre continues, the fewer chances there are to save the hostages, which is what we have also been doing, and would like to continue to do,” he stressed.

Commenting on whether Hamas and Fatah will attend the inter-Palestinian meeting set to take place in Moscow, Bogdanov affirmed that representatives of Palestinian movements Hamas and Fatah will take part in the inter-Palestinian meeting in Moscow on February 29.

“They certainly will, everyone will: Fatah and Hamas, yes,” Bogdanov said.

It is worth noting that Russia revealed last Friday that it has invited Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Fatah, and other organization leaders for talks regarding the Israeli war on Gaza in Moscow on February 29.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he noted that the visit of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to Russia is unrelated to the intra-Palestinian meeting in Moscow.

“After the elections of our president, which will take place now, in mid-March, we and our Palestinian friends will specify a date for President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to Russia, acceptable for both sides,” Bogdanov said.

Dive deeper

The US blocked Tuesday a UN Security Council resolution sponsored by Algeria calling for an emergency humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

The proposed resolution called for "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties."

The resolution also urges all parties involved in the war to "comply with their obligations under international law," particularly regarding civilians and hostages, in addition to demanding the immediate release of all captives.

The "full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip" is also declared in the resolution.

The US envoy to the UN Linda Greenfield claimed that the draft resolution was not "an effective mechanism," rejecting any ceasefire until the release of captives.

China's representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, expressed regret and frustration that the Algerian draft resolution did not pass.

Jun expressed that the proposed resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire does not achieve long-term peace. Rather, it will exacerbate the current crisis in Gaza.

On Monday, the United States proposed a draft resolution for the United Nations Security Council's "support for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practicable," Reuters reported, after seeing the text.

The draft text "determines that under current circumstances a major ground offensive into Rafah would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement including potentially into neighboring countries."

It also reiterates the context of last week's conversation between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The draft US resolution claims that Israeli plans to invade Rafah "would have serious implications for regional peace and security, and therefore underscores that such a major ground offensive should not proceed under current circumstances."

It is worth noting that, since October 7th, 2023, the Israeli occupation has killed more than 29,313 Palestinians and injured 69,333 others in its genocidal war on Gaza.