Widespread global condemnation as U.S. vetoes UN resolution on Gaza ceasefire

New York (Quds News Network) – For the third time, the United States has exercised its veto power at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to block a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war of genocide on Gaza, fueling widespread condemnation from both rivals and allies.

The vote, which took place on Tuesday, saw a 13-1 majority in favor of the resolution, with the United Kingdom abstaining. The resolution had been circulated by Washington just a day prior and proposed supporting a temporary ceasefire contingent on the release of all Israeli detainees from the besieged enclave.

International reactions:

China: Zhang Jun, China’s envoy to the UN, expressed “strong disappointment and dissatisfaction” with the U.S., deeming the veto a wrong message that intensifies the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

“The US veto sends a wrong message, pushing the situation in Gaza into a more dangerous one,” said Zhang, adding that objection to a ceasefire in Gaza is “nothing different from giving the green light to the continued slaughter”.

Russia: Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, characterized the U.S. veto as “another black page in the history of the Security Council,” accusing the U.S. of buying time for Israel to pursue its “inhumane plans” for Gaza.

He added that no matter how bitter the “aftertaste” of the vote may be, “we are not in the mood to give up”.

France: France’s UN envoy, Nicolas de Riviere, expressed regret over the resolution’s failure, highlighting the disastrous situation in Gaza. France continues to advocate for the release of captives and an immediate ceasefire.

Algeria: Algeria’s envoy lamented the UNSC’s failure, warning of profound consequences for the Middle East. He urged the international community to respond to calls for an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing the potential cost of wrong decisions on regional stability.

“Our message to you today is that the international community should respond to the calls for ending the killing of Palestinians by calling for an immediate ceasefire. All those impeding such calls should review their policies and their calculations because wrong decisions today will have a cost on our region and our world tomorrow. And this cost will be violence and instability,” Amar Bendjama said.

Palestine: Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour criticized the U.S. veto as “very regrettable” and highlighted the global consensus for an immediate ceasefire.

“Call it whatever, humanitarian, describe it as you wish, but immediate ceasefire, as requested by the secretary-general of the UN, and almost all humanitarian agencies of the United Nations, and a massive number of countries in the General Assembly,” he said.

“It is the wrong message to be sending by the Security Council to Israel.

Hamas: The Palestinian movement Hamas accused President Joe Biden’s administration of blocking the resolution to serve the Israeli occupation’s agenda, allowing for more violence and displacement of Palestinians.

“The American position is considered a green light for the occupation to commit more massacres and kill our innocent people through bombing and starvation.”

Qatar: Qatar’s UN Ambassador regretted the resolution’s failure and pledged to continue efforts to secure a truce in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry expressed “regret” at the veto and stressed the “need now more than ever to reform the Security Council to carry out its responsibilities in maintaining peace and security with credibility and without double standards”.

Norway: Norway regretted the council’s inability to adopt a resolution for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, stressing the imperative to end the horror in Gaza.

Cuba: Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez condemned the U.S. as complicit in Israel’s crimes against Palestinians, describing the veto as supporting genocide.

“The US has just vetoed again the UN Security Council resolution that demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the forced displacement of the Palestinian population,” Bermudez said in a social media post. “They are accomplices of this genocide of Israel against Palestine.”

International organizations and rights groups

Amnesty International: Agnes Callamard, secretary general of the human rights group, criticized the U.S. for not protecting Palestinian civilians and choosing the opposite path at the UNSC.

“And yet again… when the US could do the right thing: protect Palestinians against serious risks of genocide; respect international law and universality; prevent massive killings and sufferings – it chose the opposite path,” Callamard said.

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR): CAIR director Nihad Awad condemned the U.S. veto, urging President Biden to act in the interest of peace and justice.

As tensions escalate, the international community remains divided over the handling of the Gaza conflict, with calls for immediate intervention and ceasefires continuing to mount.

“The latest US veto of a UN ceasefire resolution is shameful. President Biden should stop acting like Benjamin Netanyahu’s defense lawyer and start acting like the President of the United States,” Awad said in a statement.

“We call on the American people to continue expressing their opposition to the Biden administration’s support for the Israeli government’s war crimes by contacting the White House and their elected officials and calling on them to demand a ceasefire, access to humanitarian aid, and the pursuit of a just, lasting peace.”