The American delegate to the Security Council raises her hand in objection to the Algerian draft resolution on Gaza (French)

Washington -

A session of the United Nations General Assembly witnessed a wave of criticism of the United States, which used its veto power against a draft resolution submitted by Algeria in the Security Council on February 20, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring the access of humanitarian aid to the residents of the Strip. Rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians, and demanding the immediate release of all hostages.

The meeting of the United Nations General Assembly comes within the framework of a session that discussed the “Veto Initiative,” which was approved by the Assembly in April 2022, according to which the General Assembly is committed to discussing the rationale for using the veto in the Security Council.

In his speech before the session, General Assembly President Dennis Francis acknowledged the value of the veto initiative, and expressed his regret at the necessity of resorting to it in this case and discussing the rationale for Washington’s use of this right, noting that the situation in Gaza has become “catastrophic, unreasonable and shameful.”

Relief organizations around the world stress their concern about the situation in Gaza, and stress that the ceasefire will allow supplies, food and medical care to be safely transported to the area.

However, the United States still refuses to vote in favor of implementing the ceasefire resolution, and instead acts within the framework of its own negotiations.

The use of the veto often leaves the Security Council deadlocked, as is the case with the three previous resolutions to provide aid and demand a ceasefire in Gaza, all of which were rejected by Washington.

Ammar Ben Jamea considered that rejecting the draft resolution constitutes approval of starvation as a means of war against the Palestinians (French)

Criticism of Washington

Speakers before the General Assembly warned that the United States’ use of its veto power only encourages Israel to continue its crimes against the Palestinian people, stressing that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic and is getting worse as a result.

Qatar's representative to the United Nations, Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, speaking on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said that the use of the veto cost the Council an opportunity to promote international peace and security, and instead, it sent messages of double standards in international relations. She also expressed her concern about " "The worst humanitarian disaster in modern human history."

It strongly condemned Israeli threats to launch a ground military operation in Rafah, as well as measures for the forced displacement of civilians.

She also highlighted the efforts made by her country, Egypt and the United States to achieve a ceasefire, as well as the release of detainees and prisoners.

While Algeria's Permanent Representative to the Security Council, Ammar Benjama, highlighted the importance of the draft resolution presented by his delegation in the Council.

He explained that the text presented a clear demand, in line with the call of millions of people around the world, for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Biden: “The ceasefire in Gaza is in the hands of Hamas after Israel approved it.” #Gaza_War pic.twitter.com/CnzXY8SGon

- Al Jazeera Palestine (@AJA_Palestine) March 5, 2024

Consequences of the American decision

During the US veto discussion session, Washington announced that it would propose to the Security Council its own resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire on the condition that the Israeli hostages are released.

The US veto resulted in slowing down the access of humanitarian aid to civilians as the situation in Gaza worsened.

Observers considered that the American position increases Washington's diplomatic isolation and further distances it from the rest of its allies.

In a speech before Dartmouth University, Andor Miller, an official at the US State Department, indicated that his country cannot accept a Security Council resolution that “returns the situation to what it was before last October 7th.”

The representative of the United States, Ambassador Robert Wood, Deputy Head of the American Mission to the United Nations, also indicated that his delegation clearly said last month that the resolution presented to the Security Council will not achieve the goal of sustainable peace, and may in fact conflict with it.

He added that the decision in itself would not have resulted in a ceasefire.

Palestinian-Israeli debate

Speakers at the General Assembly expressed their regret at the inability of the Security Council to call for a ceasefire, while the entire world is demanding it, and drew attention to the increasing death toll and the spread of famine in Gaza, while Israel, for its part, condemned the United Nations for what it considered “cooperation with terrorists.”

During the session discussing the recent American veto, Ambassador Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian representative to the United Nations, held up a picture of a Gazan child suffering from severe malnutrition who later died, and asked, “Have you seen the pictures of Palestinian children?” He added that Palestinian children are dying in darkness and destitution, stressing that Israel Starvation is used as a weapon of war.

Mansour pointed out that “Israel gave the Palestinian people three options: ethnic cleansing, apartheid, or genocide. These three things are possible in Palestine because of the perpetrators’ certainty that they will never be held accountable.”

The Palestinian ambassador said that Israel has been killing, maiming and displacing Palestinians for years until the atrocities culminated in massacres in Gaza, noting that Israeli leaders speak frankly about the crimes they commit.

He added, "The country (Israel) has been so emboldened that it does not feel ashamed of its crimes, and is openly challenging its closest allies while flouting the United Nations Charter."

On the other hand, Israeli representative Gilad Erdan condemned the General Assembly for convening it to focus on the situation in Gaza, instead of condemning Hamas, “as if October 7 never happened, as if there are not 134 innocent hostages being held and tortured in Gaza right now.” " According to him.

The Israeli delegate asked, "We have heard the empty words of UN officials calling for the release of the hostages, but have we seen any of them take action?"

Source: Al Jazeera