Russia, China and Algeria rejected the US draft resolution on the Gaza war in the Security Council (French)
A vote scheduled for Saturday in the UN Security Council on a new draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza was postponed until Monday, prepared by a number of non-permanent members of the Council, after Russia and China used their veto power yesterday, Friday, against the American draft resolution. Regarding the Gaza war.
Diplomatic sources explained to Agence France-Presse that the postponement decision came to allow further discussions on the draft resolution alternative to the American project, which opponents described as politicized, ambiguous, and “frees Israel’s hand.”
After the American draft resolution was rejected, an alternative draft resolution was scheduled to be put to a vote today, Saturday, sponsored by 8 non-permanent members of the Council: Algeria, Malta, Mozambique, Guyana, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, and Ecuador.
The draft resolution, which will be voted on on Monday, calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire during the month of Ramadan, leading to a permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of detainees, and the removal of all obstacles to humanitarian aid.
During yesterday's Security Council session, Russian UN delegate Vasily Nebenzia considered that the United States was not making any efforts to restrain Israel, mocking Washington for talking about a ceasefire after "Gaza was effectively wiped off the face of the earth," as he put it.
Meanwhile, the US delegate to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that the double veto was “malicious and ridiculous,” and added that Russia and China did not want to vote in favor of a resolution drafted by the United States.
Hamas values the veto
Commenting on the Russian-Chinese veto, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said that the American draft resolution, which was rejected in the Security Council, was misleading and complicit with Israel’s goals regarding the ceasefire in Gaza.
The movement expressed - in a statement - its appreciation for the Russian, Chinese and Algerian position that rejected the American draft resolution that was biased towards Israel.
Algeria said that the American draft resolution, which it voted against yesterday, Friday, did not carry a clear message of peace, and would have allowed the killing of more Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
American draft resolution
The American draft resolution did not include an explicit demand or call for Israel to cease fire in Gaza, and instead stated that there is an absolute necessity to reach an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians from all parties and allow the delivery of basic humanitarian aid to Gaza.
To this end, the draft resolution supported the ongoing international diplomatic efforts to release all remaining detainees, which would ensure reaching this ceasefire, with reference to the talks currently underway in Doha, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel.
The draft resolution received the support of 11 of the 15 members of the Council, while 3 countries, China, Russia and Algeria, rejected it, and Guyana abstained from voting.
Source: Agencies