New York: Europe and the Arabs
The United States vetoed a draft resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, while 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council supported the draft.
Despite the 14 members voting in favor of the draft resolution, the Security Council was unable to adopt it due to "the negative vote of one permanent member," as announced by the current month's Security Council president, referring to the United States. According to the UN Daily News,
For the sixth time since the war began on October 7, 2023, the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution on Thursday calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of prisoners. Washington said the move failed to condemn Hamas.
The resolution, supported by 14 other members of the UN's most powerful body, called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of relief supplies to the 2.1 million Palestinians living in Gaza and described the humanitarian situation there as "catastrophic." According to media reports, before the vote, Morgan Ortagus, deputy to US Middle East peace envoy Tom Barrack, said: "The United States' opposition to this resolution would not be surprising."
She continued: "It (the resolution) fails to condemn Hamas or recognize Israel's right to defend itself, and it wrongly legitimizes false narratives that benefit Hamas, which have unfortunately found favor in this Council." Ortagus added that other council members "ignored" US warnings about the "unacceptable" language and instead adopted "demonstrative actions aimed at eliciting a veto."
The draft resolution calls for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, respected by all parties. The council noted in the draft resolution its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups in a dignified manner. The draft resolution, submitted by the ten non-permanent members of the Security Council, demanded that the Israeli government immediately and unconditionally lift all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and ensure its safe and unhindered distribution to populations in need, particularly by the United Nations and humanitarian partners.
Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Danny Danon, said, "By supporting a draft resolution that dares to insinuate that Israel is starving the people of Gaza, you are echoing Hamas's propaganda."
He added that the draft text was "devoid of truth and courage," and that it was not the product of diplomacy or mediation, but rather obstructionism. Danon stated, "What we are seeing again is a carefully orchestrated representation, designed for headlines, not peace."
The Israeli ambassador said that the draft text "fails to label Hamas a terrorist organization, fails to condemn the October 7 massacre, and fails to demand that Hamas disarm and end its role in Gaza."
Danon said, "We will not rest until every hostage is returned home and until Hamas is defeated."
Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, expressed regret that the draft resolution was not adopted, saying, "The Council remains silent, which costs its credibility and authority a heavy price. This proves that when it comes to atrocity crimes, the use of the veto must not be allowed."
Mansour called on all states to assume their responsibility and take decisive action to "deter Israel" from continuing "to implement its criminal plans." He said, "These states have the necessary means, and they must use them, including by deploying an international protection force and implementing immediate and effective accountability measures."
The Palestinian ambassador called on the leaders who will meet in New York during the General Assembly's high-level week to "take, individually and collectively, the decisions that will save Gaza, Palestine, peace, the Middle East, and save our order based on international law."
He noted that the General Assembly will vote tomorrow on a resolution requesting the presence of Palestinian leaders in New York for the General Assembly's high-level week. He added, "We prefer that our leaders attend in person, to come peacefully to express the position of the Palestinian people, just as all your leaders do. Whether they participate in other ways or not, Palestine will be there."
China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, said his country was disappointed with the outcome of the vote, adding, "We can only wonder how many more innocent lives must be lost before a ceasefire can be achieved."
He emphasized that force cannot achieve peace, and violence cannot achieve security, warning that prolonging the fighting will only lead to more death and hatred.
He added that the United States' negative and obstructive approach to the Council's work, and its protection of violations of its resolutions, "is what has weakened this Council's effectiveness in addressing the Gaza issue."
He referred to the high-level week of the 80th session of the General Assembly and the high-level meeting on the implementation of the two-state solution, saying, "We hope that the country concerned will heed the strong calls of the international community, make the right decision, and demonstrate a sense of responsibility for life and history."
France's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jérôme Bonafont, explained that the draft resolution focused on humanitarian issues and reiterated three important demands, stressing that his country "strongly condemns the extension and intensification of the Israeli offensive on the heart of Gaza City."
He said that France calls on Israel to "end this devastating campaign, which no longer has any military rationale, and to resume negotiations as soon as possible with the aim of achieving a ceasefire and the release of all hostages."
He warned that "starving the population is a crime," affirming his country's full support for the humanitarian actors who continue to carry out their work at the risk of their lives, as well as for UN agencies and their partners.
He also reiterated his country's condemnation of the October 7, 2023, attacks carried out by Hamas. He affirmed that France will continue its mobilization through its co-chairing with Saudi Arabia of the two-state solution implementation conference on September 22.