US Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution on ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Israel-Hamas War

The United Nations Security Council encountered an impasse on Wednesday as it failed to reach an agreement on a draft resolution concerning the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict. The resolution sought to establish humanitarian pauses for delivering essential aid to the distressed populace in Gaza but faced a decisive veto from the United States, halting the Council’s attempt to address the critical situation.

Brazil, the current President of the Security Council, emphasized the urgency of a unified approach in tackling the escalating crisis. Ambassador Sergio Franca Danese, speaking on behalf of Brazil, expressed disappointment at the Council’s inaction, highlighting the perilous humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the region. He stated, “We heeded the call with a sense of urgency and responsibility; in our view, the Security Council had to take action and do so very quickly.”

“We heeded the call with a sense of urgency and responsibility, in our view the Security Council had to take action and do so very quickly,” he said, according to the UN News. “Council paralysis in the face of a humanitarian catastrophe is not in the interest of the international community,” he added. “Very sadly, the Council was yet again unable to adopt a resolution on the crisis, again silence and inaction prevailed,” he added further.

While the resolution received support from 12 Council members, the United States was the sole dissenting vote, with Russia and the United Kingdom opting to abstain. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield defended the veto, stressing the resolution’s failure to acknowledge Israel’s inherent right to self-defense, as stated in the UN Charter. “Israel has the inherent right of self-defense as reflected in Article 51 of the UN Charter,” she asserted, “this resolution should have done the same.”

“The Council paralysis in the face of a humanitarian catastrophe is not in the interest of the international community,” he added. “Very sadly, the Council was yet again unable to adopt a resolution on the crisis, again silence and inaction prevailed,” he added further.

The UK’s Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations, Barbara Woodward, explained their abstention, citing the need for a clearer recognition of Israel’s right to self-defense and the utilization of Palestinian civilians as human shields by Hamas.

This deadlock marks the second public meeting of the Council on the Gaza issue, following previous closed-door sessions on October 8 and 13. The recent vote follows the defeat of a Russian-led proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza earlier in the week, underscoring the intricate diplomatic challenges surrounding the conflict.

The ongoing violence has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, heightening the urgency for an immediate ceasefire and renewed efforts for diplomatic negotiations to resolve the enduring Israel-Palestine conflict. International pressure continues to mount, emphasizing the need for swift action to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and bring lasting peace to the region.

Also Read: Biden Commits $100 Million Humanitarian Aid for Gaza and West Bank Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
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