The United Nations Security Council on Friday (Mar. 22) turned down a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an Israel-Hamas hostage deal after Russia and China vetoed the measure proposed by the United States.
Despite 11 member states voting in favor of the proposed resolution, the two permanent members joined Algeria in voting against it, while Guyana abstained.
The resolution called for an immediate and sustained ceasefire lasting roughly six weeks, which would protect civilians and allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Diplomats told reporters that the council would meet again on Saturday morning (Mar. 23) to vote on an alternative resolution drafted by its elected members.
That resolution, a draft copy of which Reuters saw, demanded an immediate ceasefire for the current Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the release of all hostages, and an expanded flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. However, the draft did not include provisions supporting ongoing diplomatic efforts by the US, Qatar, and Egypt to secure a ceasefire, an element provided in Washington's resolution.
Friday's resolution was the first time the US backed a text coming up for a vote with the word "ceasefire" in its during the war in Gaza, reflecting a toughening of the Biden administration's stance toward Israel after months of averting the word in its diplomacy.
US Ambassador to the UN Thomas-Greenfield accused her Russian and Chinese colleagues of vetoing the resolution for "cynical" and "petty" reasons, saying that they opposed it simply because it was penned by the US and criticized both countries for not condemning Hamas's Oct.7 attack on Israel.
"The vast majority of this council voted in favor of this resolution, but unfortunately Russia and China decided to exercise its veto," she told the council. "For all the fiery rhetoric, we all know that Russia and China are not doing anything diplomatically to advance a lasting peace or to meaningfully contribute to the humanitarian response effort"
On the other hand, the Kremlin's Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said that Washiongton's resolution was "exceedingly politicized" and contained an effective green light for Israel to mount a military operation in Rafah, a city on the southern tip of the Gaza where more than half of the enclave's 2.3 million residents have been sheltering in makeshift tents.
"This would free the hands of Israel and it would result in all of Gaza and its entire population having to face destruction, devastation, or expulsion," he told colleagues, adding that the number of non-permanent members of the Security Council had drafted an alternative resolution and said there was no reason for members not to support it.
Meanwhile, Chinese ambassador Zhang Jun criticized the text proposed by the US for not clearly stating its opposition to a planned military operation by Israel in Rafah, which he said could lead to severe consequences. He added that Beijing also supported the alternative.
In response, Thomas-Greenfield said that the alternative measure fell short.
"In its current form, that text fails to support sensitive diplomacy in the region," she explained. "Worse ... it could actually give Hamas an excuse to walk away from the deal on the table."
French President Emmanuel Macron also said on Friday that his country would work with Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to persuade Russia and China to back yet another alternative resolution at the UN for a ceasefire in Gaza.
