Washington used its veto for the third time in the Security Council against resolutions calling for an end to the war in Gaza (Getty)

Arab countries and organizations rejected the United States' use of its veto in the Security Council against the draft Arab resolution submitted by Algeria to stop the Israeli war raging in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, since last October 7.

This came in separate statements issued by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation against the backdrop of Washington's use of its veto for the third time, against the draft resolution submitted by Algeria on behalf of the Arab group.

Qatar expressed - in a statement to the Foreign Ministry - its deep regret for obstructing the Arab draft resolution, stressing that "the ongoing brutal aggression against Gaza exposes, time after time, the double standards and divergent positions of the international community regarding the systematic war crimes practiced by the Israeli occupation."

The Ministry stressed that the State of Qatar will continue its efforts in cooperation with regional and international partners to achieve an immediate ceasefire, protect civilians, and facilitate the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into all areas of the Gaza Strip, as well as working to prevent the expansion of the war in the region.

In a related context, the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, participated in the media stand organized by the Arab Group at the organization’s headquarters in New York, following the Security Council vote, according to what the Qatar News Agency reported on Wednesday.

During the media stand, she stressed that "the State of Qatar will continue its mediation efforts aimed at reaching a humanitarian truce that contributes to alleviating the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people."

The Qatari delegate stressed the utmost importance for the Security Council to play a role that supports efforts aimed at reaching an immediate solution to the crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Qatar's representative to the United Nations, Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, participated in the media stand organized by the Arab Group in New York (French).

Security Council reform

In a statement to the Foreign Ministry, Saudi Arabia expressed its regret over the veto of the draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The Kingdom stressed that "there is a need more than ever to reform the Security Council, to carry out its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security with credibility and without double standards."

Saudi Arabia warned of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings, and the escalation of military operations that threaten international peace and security, according to the same statement.

Kuwait also expressed - in a statement to the Foreign Ministry - its regret for using its veto power again in the Security Council, warning of the consequences of the continued deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the continued shedding of civilian blood from the Palestinian people.

She stressed that the failure of the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution unfortunately reflects the magnitude of the challenges facing the international will, which requires rapid action to confront them to ensure that it is able to carry out its basic duties of maintaining international peace and security.

The Sultanate of Oman also expressed - in a statement to the Foreign Ministry - its regret and denunciation of the failure of the United Nations Security Council to issue a ceasefire resolution in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the repeated use of the veto.

She stressed that she will continue her call on the international community and the Security Council to facilitate all initiatives calling for an immediate ceasefire in the region and for the Council not to stand in the way of peace.

An outrageous precedent

On Tuesday evening, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed its deep regret and rejection of the repeated inability of the Security Council.

Egypt affirmed that “obstructing the issuance of a resolution calling for a ceasefire in an armed conflict that claimed the lives of more than 29,000 civilians is a shameful precedent in the history of the Security Council’s dealings with wars throughout history.”

Egypt stressed that "this matter has called into question the credibility of the rules and working mechanisms of the current international system, especially the Security Council, which is entrusted with the responsibility of preventing and settling conflicts and stopping wars."

She stressed that she will continue to demand an immediate ceasefire, as it is the best way to ensure the bloodshed of Palestinian civilians.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry also expressed, in a statement, its regret and disappointment over the failure of the Security Council once again to adopt a ceasefire resolution in the Gaza Strip as a result of the United States’ use of its veto.

It considered that the inability of the Security Council, for the third time, to issue a resolution to stop the raging war on Gaza, reflects the international inability to stop the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from the senseless war of aggression that Israel insists on continuing.

American responsibility

In a related context, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation expressed in a statement its deep regret over the failure of the UN Security Council to adopt the draft resolution to stop the aggression and the use of the United States’ veto.

She stressed that this reflects negatively on the role of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security, protecting civilians, and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, denounced in a statement the United States’ use of its veto, stressing that this clearly indicates its political and moral responsibility for the continuation of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

This is the third time that the United States has used its veto in the UN Security Council since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, against draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Washington used its veto power on October 18, 2023, against a Brazilian draft resolution calling on Israel, among other things, to withdraw the order issued to Gaza residents to move to the south of the Strip, while the second time was on December 8, 2023, when it blocked an Emirati draft resolution. Demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Source: Anadolu Agency