The US Has Blocked A UN Security Council Resolution For A Ceasefire In Gaza For The Sixth Time
The US claimed that the resolution "did not denounce Hamas or recognize Israel's right to defend itself."
The US has blocked a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza at the UN Security Council for the sixth time during the council’s 10,000th meeting.
On Sept. 18, the US struck down a draft resolution that called for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire,” the release of all hostages and unrestricted humanitarian access into Gaza.
“US opposition to this resolution will come as no surprise,” Morgan Ortagus, the US deputy special envoy to the Middle East, said before the vote, adding that it was because the resolution“did not denounce Hamas or recognize Israel's right to defend itself.”
All 14 other members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution, describing the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and calling on Israel to lift all aid restrictions.
It was the sixth time since Israel began its genocide in Gaza that the US has used its veto as a permanent member of the Security Council to shield Israel.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, called the decision “deeply regrettable and painful.”
Algerian Ambassador to the UN, Amar Bendjama, then apologized directly to Palestinians.
“Palestinian brothers, Palestinian sisters, forgive us,” he said as he broke down. “Forgive us, because the world speaks of rights, but denies them to Palestinians. Forgive us because our efforts, our sincere efforts, shattered against this wall of rejection.”
Just two days earlier, a commission set up by the UN Human Rights Council announced that it had found Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, having committed four of the five genocidal acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
Israel’s genocide has now killed more than 65,141 Palestinians in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, mostly women and children.
Sofia Hou
Kassy Cho
Kassy Cho
