New York, 19 February 2024 (TDI): It is expected of the United Nations Security Council to hold a vote this week on Tuesday, as put forward by Algeria, over a resolution that is expected to hold an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza.
However, United States is expected to again veto the resolution. Ambassador of the United States to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield informed that the draft proposed by Algeria, if is put for a vote, would not be embraced by the US.
Algeria proposed a new draft after the International Court of Justice proclaimed in late January that Israel must not commit genocidal acts in Gaza, which the country claims is targeting Hamas militants.
Furthermore, it “rejects forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population,” and “demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”
Algeria’s proposal
Algeria has appealed a UN Security Council vote on Tuesday as the number of people killed in Gaza has reached 28,858 people.
The draft as proposed by Algeria also “rejects the forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population”, all the while demanding every party to observe the international law, calling for complete, expedited, secure, and unrestrained humanitarian access in and throughout the entire strip of Gaza.
Algeria shared the proposal with the 15-member council on Wednesday, however, a resolution needs at least 9 votes in favor without any vetoes by the United States, Britain, France, China, and Russian.
US remarks on proposal
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield over a statement on Algeria’s proposed resolution said that the President of the United States, Joe Biden, is in talks with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, along with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on a hostage deal that would see six weeks of a “prolonged pause in fighting.”
The US Ambassador to the UN further goes on to maintain that the resolution brought forth in the Security Council by Algeria would not be able to attain these outcomes and may “run counter to them”.
She exclaims that “The United States does not support action on this draft resolution,” and if the opportunity to vote arises as laid out, the chances of it being adopted are none.
Prior veto by US
The United States has on various occasions used its veto power to show support to Israel. It has also done this since the beginning of the war on October 7th, 2023.
It recently used its power to veto a ceasefire resolution which was brought forward by the United Arab Emirates, in December 2023.
Upon these developments Russia’s representative Dmitriy Polyanskiy urged the United States to “make the right choice” and side with the call to put an end to violence.
Also Read: Pakistan condemns US veto to ceasefire in Gaza
Moreover, the United Nations and international rights groups have condemned the US for vetoing a UN resolution that called upon an instantaneous ceasefire in Gaza and not succeeding in putting a stop to the war that has killed thousands of people in Gaza.
