Israel USA again blocks resolution for ceasefire in Gaza

The United States has once again blocked the adoption of an internationally binding UN resolution for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The US deputy ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, vetoed a corresponding draft resolution in the United Nations Security Council in New York. All other members of the 15-member Council voted in favor.

The text had been submitted by all ten non-permanent members of the most powerful body in the United Nations. After weeks of negotiations and amendments at the request of Israel's ally, the USA, there was ultimately disagreement over one formulation in particular: the draft stated that the Security Council "calls for an immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire to be respected by all parties; further reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages".

The US took issue with the fact that the two demands were not linked - i.e. that the ceasefire was not conditional on the release of the Israeli hostages. Leading diplomats in the Security Council had recently shown increasing frustration behind the scenes with Washington, which they believe is unwilling to increase the pressure on the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

US Ambassador Wood defended the US position: "This resolution would have sent a dangerous signal to Hamas that there is no reason to return to the negotiating table." It was not Israel that stood in the way of a solution to the conflict, but the Islamist Hamas.

Low point in the Security Council

The vote, despite the certain veto by the USA, is also seen as a measure to make the Americans' stance public. "No matter how hard we tried, the US veto today is unavoidable," said a diplomat before the vote. The mood in the UN Security Council has long been considered poor, partly due to Russia's constant blockade in the Ukraine conflict. However, ambassadors report that a new low has been reached in recent weeks.

The USA has blocked a number of draft resolutions since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel more than a year ago and the subsequent devastating war in Gaza. With regard to ceasefires alone, the USA has vetoed at least four. Only the permanent members USA, Russia, China, France and Great Britain have a right of veto.

SDA