‘Gaza situation catastrophic’: US vetoes UNSC resolution for immediate ceasefire 6th time

The United States has once again vetoed a crucial United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as Israel continues with its onslaught in Gaza City. The resolution in question was approved by 14 out of 15 members of the council on Thursday.

It called for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties”, the release of all captives held by Hamas and other groups, and a lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza. The resolution was drafted by 10 members of the council and went further than the previous versions in terms of highlighting the “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis in the coastal enclave.

However, the resolution failed to be passed by the body after the United States vetoed the effort. “US opposition to this resolution will come as no surprise,” said Morgan Ortagus, US deputy special envoy to the Middle East. “It [the resolution] fails to condemn Hamas or recognise Israel’s right to defend itself, and it wrongly legitimises the false narratives benefitting Hamas, which have sadly found currency in this council,” Ortagus argued.

The American envoy went on to claim that the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification’s official declaration of famine in the enclave last month had employed “flawed methodology”. He went on to laud the works of heavily militarised GHF hubs, even though many Palestinians have been killed in the areas while seeking food for their families.

Condemnation that followed

After the voting, the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, said the US veto was “deeply regrettable”. He insisted that the move had prevented “the Security Council from playing its rightful role in the face of these atrocities and to protect civilians in the face of genocide”

“Unfortunately, the Council remains silent at a great cost for its credibility and authority,” Mansour added. “This demonstrates that when it comes to atrocity crimes, the use of the veto should simply not be allowed.” Meanwhile, the Algerian Ambassador to the United Nations, Amar Bendjama, slammed the American delegation as well.

“Forgive us, because the world speaks of rights, but denies them to Palestinians. Forgive us because our efforts, our sincere efforts, shattered against this wall of rejection.” It is pertient to note that the war in Gaza has already killed 18,000 children, 12,000 women, 1,400 doctors and nurses, and more than 250 journalists, according to the figures obtained by Al Jazeera.

Amid the criticism, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said that Israel needed “no justification” for its war on Gaza. He thanked Ortagus for exercising the US veto. Since the start of the war, Israel has maintained that it wants to definitively crush Hamas. However, the Jewish nation never gave a specific timeline for the offensive to end.