The US on Tuesday vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution on the Israel-Hamas war. The draft resolution called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Instead the US called for a temporary ceasefire tied to the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Thirteen members of the 15-member Security Council voted in favor of Algeria's draft resolution, while Britain abstained. This is the third time that the US has vetoed such a resolution since the war began on October 7 last year. Before the vote, Algeria's Ambassador to the Security Council Ammar Bendjamaa said, 'A vote in support of this draft resolution will support the right to life of the Palestinians. Voting against it would be an endorsement of barbaric violence and mass punishment.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield indicated on Saturday that the US would veto the draft resolution because it would disrupt talks between the US, Egypt, Israel and Qatar aimed at stopping the war and ending the Hamas takeover. Could. Hostage leader Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council ahead of Tuesday's vote that “Hamas' demand for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire without requiring the release of hostages will not lead to lasting peace.” Instead, it could escalate fighting between Hamas and Israel.
Algeria's draft resolution did not link the ceasefire to the release of hostages, but separately called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. “This veto sends a message to Israel that it can continue to kill and get away with it,” said Palestine's representative on the council. At the same time, Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan said that only one thing can be achieved from the ceasefire – the survival of Hamas. Meanwhile, the US has introduced a draft resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire protesting Israel's ground operations in Rafah.
A UN agency cut off food supplies to northern Gaza
The World Food Program said on Tuesday it had to halt food supplies to northern Gaza due to increasing chaos. Due to which the risk of starvation has increased in this area. One in six children in the northern region is severely malnourished, the UN children's agency has warned in a study.