United Nations (EFE). – The United States vetoed on Wednesday a resolution presented by the ten non-permanent of the UN Security Council to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
This is the sixth time that the United States has vetoed a resolution critical of Israel since the outbreak of war in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023.
The other 14 of the Council, including and the United Kingdom, which are closer to Israel, voted in favor of a resolution containing three demands: a ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and the entry of large-scale humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, which is experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
The text had been under negotiation for two weeks among the fifteen of the Council until a “reasonable consensus” was reached, according to Samuel Zbogar, Slovenia’s representative.
Before the vote, the acting US representative, Dorothy Shea, justified her country’s veto, stating: “The United States has been clear we would not any measure that fails to condemn Hamas and does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza.”
“This resolution would undermine diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire that reflects the realities on the ground and emboldens Hamas,” Shea pointed out.
“This resolution also draws a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas,” she added.
Finally, she called on the UN and NGOs to the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), a US-sponsored organization that channels humanitarian aid outside UN channels, despite its operation resulting in chaos and panic, and in some cases, shootings against Palestinians on their way to aid checkpoints.
UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward criticized Israel for restricting the delivery of humanitarian aid.
“Palestinians, desperate to feed their families, have been killed as they try to reach the very few aid sites that have been permitted by Israel. This is inhumane,” said Woodward.
Pakistan’s Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad also condemned the US veto.
“It will be ed as a complicity, a green light for continued annihilation. A moment where the entire world was expecting action. But yet again, this council was blocked and prevented by one member from carrying out its responsibility,” Ahmad said. EFE
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