US vetoes UNSC resolution seeking Gaza ceasefire

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United States has vetoed a draft United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a media report said on Thursday.

The 15-member council voted 14-1 in favour of the resolution but it could not be adopted because of the US veto, the Guardian reported.

It said the resolution demanded “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in the war between Israel and the Palestinian group, along with “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages”.

Robert Wood, the US deputy ambassador to the UN, said his country’s position remained that there had “to be a linkage between a ceasefire and the release of hostages”.

The US veto triggered criticism from other countries that pointed out the United Nations had failed to establish peace in Gaza.

Permanent member France also expressed disappointment. “There is an obvious urgency to implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

“This is the only way to guarantee the protection of all civilians and the massive and unhindered delivery of emergency aid,” France’s UN representative Nicolas de Riviere said.

Majed Bamya, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said: “there’s no justification whatsoever for vetoing a resolution trying to stop atrocities”.

UNSC is made up of 15 members and five of them are permanent members, including the US, the UK, France, Russia and China and have the right to veto.

In June, the Security Council approved a US-backed ceasefire plan to end the war. Fourteen of the 15 members voted in favour, with Russia abstaining -- the first time the UNSC had endorsed such a plan.

kk/mud