Russia and China reject US-proposed resolution for cease-fire in Gaza

The United Nations (UN) Security Council’s resolution calling for an immediate and sustained cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza was vetoed by Russia and China on Friday. The resolution, sponsored by the US, aimed to safeguard civilians and allow deliverance of humanitarian aid to over 2 million Palestinians in need. The Council voted 11 in favour, 3 against and 1 abstention.

Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stated that while Russia supports an immediate cease-fire, he questioned the resolution’s language and accused the US of politicizing the situation. The revisited resolution made no explicit reference to the hostages taken during the Hamas attack on Israel in early October but supported diplomatic actions for a cease-fire related to the release of all remaining hostages.

This veto follows the earlier sweeping aside of a US-sponsored resolution by Russia and China that called for intermittent pauses in the war to deliver aid, protect civilians and halt the arming of Hamas. Previously, the Security Council adopted two resolutions addressing Gaza’s worsening humanitarian condition but none demanding a cease-fire. The US, Israel’s staunchest ally, has vetoed three such resolutions so far.

Amidst this, the other elected members of the UN Security Council are reportedly developing a separate resolution that calls for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire during Ramadan, requiring it to be respected by all parties. Meanwhile, the proposed US draft expresses serious concern about the impending famine and epidemics that threaten the civilians in Gaza. It emphasizes the vital need to expand humanitarian help and lift all the obstructions to bring aid to all the civilians on a larger scale.

The war, triggered by a surprise attack in early October by Palestinian militants into southern Israel, reported 1,200 casualties and an abduction of around 250 people. With the Palestinian death toll in the Gaza territory escalating to nearly 32,000, global pressure mounts on Israel to streamline the aid delivery process, open more land crossings and come to a cease-fire agreement. However, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stood firm on his decision to shift the military offensive to the southern city of Rafah, a known Hamas stronghold.