Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishq described Washington's position as "immoral and inhumane" (Anatolia-Archive)
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) strongly condemned the United States' veto of a Security Council draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while its ally Israel thanked it for its continued support during the ongoing aggression on the besieged enclave.
Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas' political bureau, said in a Telegram statement, "We strongly condemn Washington's veto of a draft resolution in the Security Council demanding a ceasefire in Gaza."
He added that "America's obstruction of a ceasefire decision is a direct participation of the occupation in killing our people and committing more massacres and ethnic cleansing," describing Washington's position as "immoral and inhumane."
On Friday, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency session to vote on the draft resolution submitted by the United Arab Emirates and in which more than 80 countries, including Turkey, participated, but the council was unable to adopt the draft resolution due to the use of the United States veto.
Thirteen of the council's 13 members supported the bill, with the United Kingdom abstaining.
The draft resolution demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, reiterated its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and in particular with regard to the protection of civilians, and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all "hostages" and the guarantee of humanitarian access.
Gilad Erdan said a ceasefire would only be possible "with the return of all the hostages and the destruction of Hamas" (Reuters)
Israel thanks America
In return, Israel thanked the United States for using its veto power in the UN Security Council to thwart the bill, and Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said, in a tweet on the "X" platform, at dawn on Saturday, "Thank you to our ally the United States for its continued support in the battle to return the kidnapped and eliminate Hamas."
Cohen also continued to attack UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, saying that "Guterres' request, siding with Hamas, and demanding a ceasefire is a shame for his position, and a shame for the UN."
In recent weeks, Israel has criticized the UN secretary-general for demanding an end to Israel's aggression on Gaza.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan wrote on the X platform at dawn today, "I thank the United States and President (Joe) Biden for standing firmly by our side today and showing their leadership and values," and added, "A ceasefire will only be possible with the return of all hostages and the destruction of Hamas."
Since the seventh of last October, the Israeli army has launched a devastating aggression on the Gaza Strip, leaving 17,487 martyrs, 46,480 wounded, most of them children and women, massive destruction in infrastructure, and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, according to official Palestinian and UN sources.
Source: Agencies