China and Russia Block US Proposal for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

Key Points

Eleven of the 15 council members voted for the resolution, but the Russia and China vetoes stopped its passage.
Friday was the first time Washington had backed a text that came up for a vote with the word “ceasefire” in it
The US has wanted any Security Council support for a ceasefire to be linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The United Nations Security Council on Saturday 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.

The resolution, on which Algeria also voted no and Guyana abstained, called for an immediate and sustained ceasefire lasting roughly six weeks that would protect civilians and allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Eleven of the 15 council members voted for the resolution, but the Russia and China vetoes stopped its passage.

The council will meet early on Sunday morning to vote on an alternative resolution drafted by elected members of the Security Council, diplomats said.

People flee as smoke rises above buildings near the al-Shifa hospital compound and its vicinity during Israeli bombardment in Gaza City on Thursday. Source: Getty / AFP

That resolution, a draft copy of which was seen by Reuters, demands 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.

The draft does not include provisions supporting ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire – an element of the US resolution. Washington has been working with Qatar and Egypt to try to broker a deal.

US toughens stance

Friday was the first time Washington had backed a text that came up for a vote with the word “ceasefire” in it during the war in Gaza, reflecting a toughening of the Biden administration’s stance toward Israel.

Earlier in the five-month-old war, the US was averse to the word ceasefire and vetoed measures that included calls for an immediate ceasefire.

“The vast majority of this council voted in favor of this resolution, but unfortunately Russia and China decided to exercise its veto,” US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council.

She accused Russia and China of vetoing the resolution for “cynical” and “petty” reasons. She said they opposed it simply because it was penned by the US and criticised both countries for not condemning Hamas’s 7 October attack on Israel.

The US has wanted any Security Council support for a ceasefire to be linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Israel has bombarded Gaza since Hamas’ 7 October attack in which more than 1,200 people, including an estimated 30 children, were killed and over 200 hostages taken, according to the Israeli government. More than 32,000 people have been killed in Gaza since 7 October, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

The 7 October attack was a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

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