US vetoes draft UNSC resolution on rescinding Gaza evacuation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Oct 2023 20:35
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"No matter how hard the Americans tried to appear as peacekeepers, they ultimately failed," the Russian UN diplomat said.

Some members of the UN Security Council vote against a resolution put forth by Russia regarding the conflict in Palestine at United Nations headquarters Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. The resolution did not pass (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

The United States on Wednesday exercised its veto power to block a UN Security Council resolution, drafted by Brazil, that urged "Israel" to revoke its evacuation order for Gazans. Both Russia and the UK abstained from voting.

The Brazilian presidency of the UN Security Council has requested a 24-hour extension to modify a draft resolution in a way that would satisfy all Security Council members.

However, the proposed resolution faced criticism for being politically unbalanced due to its exclusive condemnation of Hamas's actions without addressing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and the absence of an immediate ceasefire call.

Russia attempted to modify the draft resolution by adding wording that condemns the "indiscriminate attacks" on civilians in Gaza, specifically mentioning the severe strike on Al-Ahli hospital, and including a demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. However, the UN Security Council rejected both proposed amendments.

This comes after the UN Security Council declined a resolution proposed by Russia on Monday, which aimed to establish a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

'Unbalanced' resolution

According to Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy, the resolution drafted by Brazil was deemed "unbalanced" and lacked consensus among Security Council member states.

He mentioned via Telegram that the Brazilian presidency of the UNSC has requested a 24-hour extension to amend the draft resolution in a manner that would be agreeable to all Security Council members.

"It (the Brazilian presidency - ed.) did not manage to do so," Polyanskiy said, adding that these shortcomings are owed to "the presence of wording that exclusively condemns the actions of [Palestinian movement] Hamas, but not the bombing of "Israel" in Gaza, which makes it political and unbalanced" and "the absence of a call for an immediate ceasefire.

"Accordingly, Russia has introduced two amendments to it [the draft resolution] on these subjects, which will be voted on before the draft itself. Today, we supplemented the amendment that concerns condemnation of the strikes on Gaza with condemnation of the strike on the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza," Polyanskiy further said.

"The masks are off. No matter how hard the Americans tried to appear as peacekeepers, they ultimately failed. A huge foreign policy failure for Washington," Polyanskiy noted.

Backing from China

China's ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, stated on Wednesday that China will endorse Russia's proposed changes to a resolution on the conflict in Palestine, which was originally drafted by Brazil.

"We will," Zhang told reporters when asked if China will support Russia’s amendments.

At a UN Security Council meeting, Zhang said that China expressed deep disappointment that the draft resolution failed to be adopted and was also dismayed that Russia's proposed amendments were rejected.

US backs "Israel"

On another note, US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, expressed disappointment in the Brazilian-drafted resolution on the conflict in Palestine for not including any reference to "Israel's" purported right to self-defense. She made these remarks on Wednesday after vetoing the resolution.

"The United States is disappointed this resolution made no mention of Israel's rights of self-defense. Like every nation in the world, Israel has the inherent right of self-defense, as reflected in article 51 of the UN Charter," Thomas-Greenfield said during a UN Security Council meeting.