On Friday, the United States found itself in a position of diplomatic isolation when it exercised its veto power at the United Nations Security Council. The matter at hand was a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The US vetoes a UN Security Council resolution calling for ceasefire in Gaza amid growing concern about the civilian death toll there https://t.co/htquNdi9s1
— CNN (@CNN) December 8, 2023
The United States’ decision to veto the resolution effectively shielded its ally, Israel, from international pressure to halt the fighting. This move, placed Washington in a diplomatically isolated position on the global stage, as it stood in opposition to the broader international community’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
In a recent vote at the United Nations Security Council, a draft resolution proposed by the United Arab Emirates received the support of thirteen members. This resolution was brief in nature, yet it carried significant implications for the ongoing conflict. Britain choose to abstain from voting, adding another layer of complexity to the international response.
The vote was held by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He addressed the 15-member council on Wednesday, alerting them to a global threat posed by the war, which had been raging for two months at that point.
The US vetoes a UN resolution for a ceasefire in Israel-Gaza while the UK abstains. The usual combination protecting Israel violence. Why? The Sabbatian Cult that has controlled Israel since 1948 also controls the US and UK. Simple, really. https://t.co/QdnTouuUQw pic.twitter.com/i2WRrowpAP
— David Icke (@davidicke) December 9, 2023
“What is the message we are sending Palestinians if we cannot unite behind a call to halt the relentless bombardment of Gaza?” Deputy UAE U.N. Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab asked the council.
The United States and Israel have expressed their opposition to a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. Their stance is rooted in the belief that such a ceasefire would primarily serve the interests of Hamas.
Instead of a full ceasefire, Washington advocates for temporary pauses in the hostilities. The rationale behind this approach is twofold. Firstly, these pauses are seen as a means to safeguard civilians who are caught in the crossfire.
Secondly, these pauses are intended to facilitate the release of hostages. That Hamas carried out a deadly attack on Israel on October 7.
Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood told the council that the draft resolution was an imbalanced text
“that was divorced from reality, that would not move the needle forward on the ground in any concrete way.”
“Although the United States strongly supports a durable peace in which both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security, we do not support this resolution’s call for an unsustainable ceasefire that will only plant the seeds for the next war,” said Wood.
Deliberations on the draft resolution at the United Nations, the United States proposed significant modifications.
The amendments was a strong condemnation of the attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7. According to reports from Israel, these attacks resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 1,200 lives.
It is reported that around 240 people were taken hostage during the course of these attacks.
The UK’s U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward explained that her country did not support the resolution because it did not explicitly condemn Hamas.
“Israel needs to be able to address the threat posed by Hamas and it needs to do so in a manner that abides by international humanitarian law so that such attack can never be carried out again,” she told the council.
The United States has shown a preference for utilizing its own diplomatic channels and strategies, rather than relying on actions taken by the Security Council.
In a recent statement, Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, acknowledged a significant discrepancy. He noted that there exists a “gap” between Israel’s stated intention to protect civilians in the ongoing conflict and the actual events unfolding on the ground.
Furthermore, the situation on the ground is underscored by the alarming figures released by Gaza’s Health Ministry. They have reported that the conflict has resulted in the tragic loss of more than 17,480 lives.
The situation in Gaza has been marked by a series of aggressive actions taken by Israel. These include aerial bombardments, the imposition of a siege, and the initiation of a ground offensive. These measures have resulted in widespread destruction and have significantly disrupted the lives of the residents of Gaza.
The cumulative impact of these actions has been catastrophic for the Palestinian enclave’s 2.3 million inhabitants. The vast majority of them have been forced to flee their homes due to the escalating violence and the deteriorating living conditions.
“There is no effective protection of civilians,” Guterres told the council earlier on Friday. “The people of Gaza are being told to move like human pinballs – ricocheting between ever-smaller slivers of the south, without any of the basics for survival. But nowhere in Gaza is safe.”
A period of tranquility, lasting for seven days, was observed recently. This pause was marked by significant events that unfolded in the Middle East. Hamas, decided to release some of the hostages they had been holding. This action was a positive development, signaling a potential shift towards peace and negotiation.
In addition to this, there was an escalation in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. This period of calm and positive developments concluded on December 1.
There have been numerous instances where the Security Council’s efforts to intervene have been unsuccessful. However, in a significant move last month, the Council made a plea for temporary ceasefires in the ongoing conflicts. The primary objective of these pauses was to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The situation in Gaza was aptly described by Guterres on Friday as a “spiraling humanitarian nightmare.”
During a meeting of the Security Council held earlier on Friday, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, made a significant statement. He informed the Council about a ceasefire agreement that had been in place but was unfortunately violated by Hamas. This breach occurred on October 7.
“The irony is that regional stability and the security of both Israelis and Gazans can only be achieved once Hamas is eliminated, not one minute before,” Erdan said. “So the true path to ensure peace is only through supporting Israel’s mission – absolutely not to call for a ceasefire.”
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