The United Nations Security Council on Monday rejected Russia's resolution that called for a ceasefire in Gaza after the opposition said that it ignored Hamas' terrorism in the region.
The chaos in Gaza has been going on for nearly two weeks as Israel and Hamas militant forces battle it out for control. Russia's resolution received five votes in favor, from China, Gabon, Mozambique, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Security Council Rejects Russian Resolution
On the other hand, four others voted against the resolution, namely France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. There were also six abstentions in the vote, Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Malta, and Switzerland.
In order for the Security Council to adopt a resolution, the proposal must receive at least nine votes in favor, with none of its five permanent members opposing or casting a veto. The Russian-led draft text had called for a humanitarian ceasefire, release of all hostages, aid access, and safe evacuation of civilians, as per UN News.
The Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, expressed regret over the Security Council's failure to adopt the resolution, blaming the "selfish intention of the Western bloc."
Nebenzia noted that the Western countries' delegations "basically stomped" on global hopes for the Council to put an end to violence in Gaza. He added that the vote revealed countries who were in support of ending the violence and providing humanitarian aid and those who were blocking a unified message "for purely selfish and political interests."
The official said that they were extremely concerned by the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe that is seen in Gaza as well as the high risk of the conflict spreading to other regions.
On the other hand, the Permanent Representative of the U.S., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that her nation could not support Russia's resolution because it ignored Hamas' terrorism and dishonored victims.
Hamas' Terrorist Attack on Israel
The war between Israel and the Hamas militant group initially took the lives of more than 1,400 people. The UN Security Council huddled as the Middle Eastern nation was readying for an expected ground assault on the Gaza Strip, after air and artillery strikes that officials reported claimed the lives of at least 2,750 people, according to the Times of Israel.
The situation also comes as the White House said that President Joe Biden was planning to visit Israel on Wednesday. It is a trip that is designed to balance support for a key ally with growing global calls for restraint in its operations in Gaza.
Thomas-Greenfield said that Russia's failure to condemn Hamas in the conflict, Moscow is giving cover to a terrorist group that brutalizes innocent civilians. She called the situation outrageous and Russia's actions hypocritical and indefensible.
She added that the U.S., which traditionally shields its ally Israel from council action, does agree that action should be taken. However, she noted that they have to get it right and they have to work intensively with all members.
On the other hand, a vote on the rival Brazilian-drafted resolution, which included wording that condemns "the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas," was delayed until late Tuesday. The decision was made to give the Security Council more time to negotiate, said Reuters.
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