New York, 18 October 2023 (TDI): The UN Security Council (UNSC) vetoed to adoption of a resolution proposed by Russia for calling a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza on October 16, in New York.
The Russian resolution draft text had called for a humanitarian ceasefire, release of all hostages, aid access, and safe evacuation of civilians of the people of Gaza.
The Russian-led draft resolution received five votes in favor from China, Gabon, Mozambique, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
While France, Japan, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) voted against the resolution. Additionally, Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Malta, and Switzerland abstained from voting for the resolution.
The Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia expressed regret over the UNSC’s failure to adopt the resolution and called it to be the selfish intention of the Western bloc.
Russian Envoy, Vassily Nebenzia stressed that the Western countries’ delegations stomped the global hopes for the Council to put an end to violence.
“We are extremely concerned by the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the very high risk of the conflict spreading,” Russian Envoy, Vassily Nebenzia added.
Permanent Observer of the Observer State of Palestine to the UN, Riyad Mansour, urged the Security Council to be guided by the principles of international law withholding no exceptions.
“Do not send the signals that Palestinian lives do not matter. Do not dare say Israel is not responsible for the bombs it is dropping on their heads,” Riyad Mansour emphasized.
The Permanent Observer of the Observer State of Palestine to the UN, Riyad Mansour shed light that what is happening in Gaza is not a military operation, but a full-scale assault against Palestinian people and a massacre against innocent civilians.
“Nowhere is safe in Gaza, families embrace every night, not knowing if it is for the last time,” Riyad Mansour.
Also read: Russia urges immediate ceasefire & truce in Palestine-Israel Conflict
On the part of the US, the Permanent Representative of the US to UNSC, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that the US could not support the Russian draft resolution as it ignored Hamas’ terrorism and dishonored victims.
“We cannot allow this Council to unfairly shift the blame to Israel and excuse Hamas for its decades of cruelty,” the US Representative added.
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