FLASH
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The United States vetoed a draft UN resolution backed by Arab countries that called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Tuesday's vote in the 15-member Security Council ended with 13 votes in favor of Algeria's proposal, one against and Britain abstaining, reflecting broad global support for ending the war.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield had previously said the US would block the resolution, as it could derail ongoing US efforts to reach an agreement between the parties that would bring at least a six-week pause in fighting and would release all hostages taken during the October 7 attack.
In a surprise move ahead of the vote, the United States circulated a rival Security Council resolution that would support a temporary cease-fire in Gaza.
The US draft resolution, the text of which has been obtained by the Associated Press news agency, calls for a temporary ceasefire "as soon as possible" and demands the release of all hostages taken during the Hamas attack on October 7. and calls for the removal of all restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid.
According to the US proposal, both of these actions "would help create the conditions for a lasting cessation of hostilities," as called for in a resolution adopted by the Security Council on December 22.
Also, this proposal calls for "not to continue under the current circumstances" the offensive planned by Israel in the southern city of Gaza, Rafah, where about 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltered.
According to the US draft resolution, further displacement of civilians, "including possibly to neighboring countries", a reference to Egypt, would have serious consequences for regional peace and security.
The draft resolution supported by Arab countries was proposed by Algeria, which represents the 22 Arab countries in the most powerful UN body.
In addition to the ceasefire, the Algerian proposal calls for the immediate release of all hostages and reiterates the Council's demands that Israel and Hamas "scrupulously respect" international law, particularly the protection of civilians, and rejects the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement Sunday that the United States has been working for months on a deal to release the hostages that would bring at least a six-week period of calm that we could take advantage of to begin taking "steps to build a more lasting peace."
She said US President Joe Biden has had several phone calls over the past week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to push for a deal.
Qatar said on Saturday that the talks "have not progressed as expected".
"While shortfalls remain," said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, "key elements are on the table" and this remains the best opportunity to reunite the hostages with their families and enable a prolonged pause in the fighting that would allow the achievement of vital aid to Palestinian civilians.
"The resolution supported by Arab countries would not achieve those results," she said.
"For this reason, the United States does not support action on this draft resolution. If it comes up for a vote as drafted, it will not be approved.”
Arab countries, backed by many of the 193 UN member states, have been calling for a ceasefire for months, while Israel's military offensive in response to the Hamas attack has intensified. The number of Palestinians killed has exceeded 29,000, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The ministry, which is run by Hamas, does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, but says most are women and children.
Israel on Sunday formalized its rejection of a "unilateral recognition" of a Palestinian state and added that a possible agreement should only be reached through direct negotiations.
A day earlier, the Israeli prime minister declared that it made no sense to continue talks with Hamas. Talks mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have so far failed to establish a pause in the fighting in Gaza./ VOA
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