- By Aashish Vashistha
- Thu, 21 Nov 2024 08:20 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Wednesday that called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, citing concerns over the failure to address the release of hostages.
Fourteen out of the 15 Council members supported the draft resolution, which called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent end to the war in Gaza, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages.
Deputy US Ambassador Robert Wood stated that the US could not support a ceasefire that did not prioritize the hostages' release, emphasizing that a sustainable end to the conflict must include their freedom, as previously underscored by the Security Council.
“These two urgent goals are inextricably linked. This resolution abandoned that necessity, and for that reason, the United States could not support it,” Wood was quoted as saying by CNN.
Wood also highlighted that the authors had rejected any compromise language that could have facilitated the passage of the resolution, particularly pointing out that the resolution did not include a condemnation of Hamas for its October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
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This led to strong objections, with the United States, as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, using its veto power to block the resolution. The other four permanent members—Russia, China, France, and the UK—supported the measure, marking a notable shift for the UK, which had previously abstained from three other similar resolutions.
Before the vote, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon voiced strong opposition, describing the potential approval of the resolution as a “betrayal.” His remarks reflected the broader concern within Israel that any resolution that did not address Hamas’ actions would undermine its security concerns.
