China News Service reported on February 19 that diplomats said that the United Nations Security Council may vote on the humanitarian ceasefire resolution proposed by Algeria in Gaza on the 20th local time, but the United States has hinted that it will implement a one-vote veto in the vote.
Image source: Screenshot of Reuters report
According to Reuters, Algeria proposed an initial draft resolution more than two weeks ago. Diplomatic sources revealed that Algeria requested that the Security Council hold a vote on the 20th local time. To be passed, a UN Security Council resolution requires at least nine votes in favor, and the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia cannot veto it with one vote.
However, Thomas Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, believes that this draft may jeopardize the "sensitive negotiations" aimed at promoting a moratorium on the conflict. "The United States does not support action on this draft resolution. If voted on as drafted, it will not be adopted," the statement said.
Reuters reported that since October 7, 2023, the United States has repeatedly vetoed the actions of the Security Council, and it has also abstained from voting twice, allowing the Security Council to pass resolutions aimed at strengthening humanitarian assistance to Gaza, as well as calling for emergency and a resolution on a long-term humanitarian ceasefire.
On October 16, 2023, the United Nations Security Council voted on the humanitarian draft resolution on the Palestinian-Israeli issue proposed by Russia. China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Mozambique, and Gabon voted in favor of the draft resolution. Due to the opposition of the United States, Britain and other countries, The draft resolution was not adopted. On October 18 of the same year, the United States once again vetoed a draft resolution of the United Nations Security Council, which required relevant parties to temporarily cease fire in order to provide humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip.