Russia, China veto US-backed UN resolution on Gaza

NEW YORK: In the United Nations session, Russia and China, supported by the United Arab Emirates, vetoed a United States-drafted Security Council resolution aimed at addressing the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The resolution, which called for temporary pauses in the ongoing violence to facilitate humanitarian aid access, was met with strong opposition from these countries.

The vote, held on Wednesday, saw the United States and its allies advocating for the immediate need to allow humanitarian assistance into Gaza, where a worsening crisis is affecting the lives of countless civilians. However, Russia, China, and the United Arab Emirates voted against the proposal, asserting their objections to the drafted resolution. Ten council members supported the resolution, while two abstained from voting.

Following this veto, the Security Council convened again to consider a Russian-drafted resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. The Russian proposal demanded “an immediate, durable, and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire” while condemning all forms of violence and hostilities against civilians. It also explicitly denounced the recent attacks by Hamas on October 7.

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The vote on the Russian resolution resulted in limited support, with only Russia, China, the United Arab Emirates, and Gabon casting affirmative votes. Nine council members chose to abstain, and the United States and Britain voted against the proposal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his concerns about the potential for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to escalate further and affect regions beyond the Middle East. He emphasised the urgency of ending the violence and bloodshed, underlining the far-reaching and destructive consequences if the crisis intensifies.

President Putin’s comments were recorded in a Kremlin transcript, where he stated, “Our task today, our main task, is to stop the bloodshed and violence. Otherwise, further escalation of the crisis is fraught with grave and extremely dangerous and destructive consequences. And not only for the Middle East region. It could spill over far beyond the borders of the Middle East.”

In a separate development, US President Joe Biden acknowledged that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza had resulted in civilian casualties. However, he questioned the accuracy of the casualty figures provided by Gaza’s Health Ministry, stating, “I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed. I’m sure innocents have been killed.” President Biden emphasized the need for precision in Israeli military operations and expressed doubt regarding the Palestinian casualty numbers.

Concurrently, the Palestinian Authority’s foreign minister, Riyad al-Maliki, held a meeting with senior officials from the International Criminal Court in The Hague, though the specific details of the meeting remain undisclosed. This diplomatic engagement adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing efforts to address the Gaza crisis and its implications on the international stage.