A general view of a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters on Nov 19. - Photo: AP Photo / Yuki Iwamura
HAMILTON, CANADA: The United States has once again vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution calling for an "immediate, unconditional, and permanent" ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday (Nov 20).
This draft also advocated for the prevention of Palestinians' starvation, as reported by Anadolu Agency.
The draft resolution, proposed by ten elected Council members - Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Malta, Mozambique, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Switzerland - received 14 votes in favour.
The resolution "called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire to be respected by all parties".
It also reiterated the "demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages", urging the Security Council to uphold its responsibility to maintain international peace and security.
The worsening humanitarian crisis was highlighted, and the resolution insisted on "immediate access by the civilian population in the Gaza Strip to basic services and essential humanitarian assistance".
The draft resolution opposed "any effort to starve Palestinians" and called for "the facilitation of full, rapid, safe, and unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance at scale to and throughout the Gaza Strip".
It urged all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
It also demanded the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2735, which includes provisions for hostages, Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The resolution requested reports from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on its implementation and a comprehensive needs assessment for Gaza within 90 days.
However, the US veto prevents these measures from being enacted.
Ahead of the anticipated US veto, Anadolu reported Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana's envoy to the UN, as saying that "the resolution before the Council is the product of several weeks of consultations among all council members".
She stated that the resolution "was prompted by the Council's deep concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, including what was unfolding in North Gaza, and the need for an urgent response to that situation".
Robert Wood, US deputy envoy to UN, said after the vote that, "We made clear throughout negotiations we could not support an unconditional ceasefire that failed to release the hostages," and that "a durable end to the war must come with the release of the hostages".
Previously, the US vetoed three Security Council draft resolutions calling for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza, in October and December 2023 and in February, while abstaining in votes on other draft resolutions. – Bernama-AA
