US Vetoes UN Security Council Condemning Violence Against Civilians And Urging Aid On Gaza

The United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution on Wednesday that would have urged for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas war to allow humanitarian aid access to Gaza and would have condemned violence against all civilians in the conflict.

The resolution was drafted by Brazil and the voting was delayed two times. In the 15-member Security council 12 members voted in favor, Russia and the U.K. abstained, and the U.S. voted against.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the U.S. was doing “hard work of diplomacy”, referring to Biden’s visit to Israel.

“Yes, resolutions are important. And yes, this council must speak out. But the actions we take must be informed by the facts on the ground and support direct diplomacy efforts. That can save lives. The council needs to get this right,” she said.

She also criticized the resolution for not saying anything about Israel’s right to self-defense.

According to a report by Reuters, the U.S. traditionally shields Israel from any Security Council action.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the U.S of “hypocrisy” and “double standards”. Now, Russia called for a 193-member U.N. General Assembly emergency session on the conflict, where no countries hold veto power.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Wednesday for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow the release of hostages and humanitarian aid access to Gaza.

Truckloads full of aid have been waiting in the Egyptian border with Gaza for days, but authorities have said that they have been unable to enter the country due to Israeli strikes on Gaza.

On Wednesday U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council :”We urgently need a mechanism agreed by all relevant parties to allow for a regular provision of emergency needs throughout Gaza.”