UN security council passes resolution calling for ceasefire in Gaza after US abstains
For the first time the UN security council has voted for a call for a ceasefire in Gaza, after the US abstained, rather than using its veto as it has done on previous occasions. Russia and China have also previously vetoed texts.
The resolution that passed was written by the 10 elected members to the council, and proposed in the chamber by Mozambique’s representative.
Russia attempted to amend the text by restoring it to an earlier draft which included the word “permanent”, but the bid failed.
14 members of the UN security council voted for the resolution, while the US abstained.
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier threatened to cancel a planned delegation to Washington if the US did not exercise its veto.
Key events
Abstention at UN marks new rift between Biden administration and the Netanyahu government
Julian Borger
A snap piece of analysis from my colleague Julian Borger in Washington:
The US abstention marks a rift with the Netanyahu government, reflecting mounting frustration in Washington at the prime minister’s defiant insistence Israeli forces will go ahead with the Rafah attack, and at continued Israeli hindrance of humanitarian aid deliveries.
While the resolution demands a temporary ceasefire during the remainder of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, it adds that should lead to a “lasting sustainable ceasefire”. In a late amendment demanded by the US, the word “lasting” was substituted for “permanent”, to Russian objections. A Russian effort to restore the word “permanent” was defeated by 11 votes to three.
At the last minute on Monday morning, the US asked for an amendment adding a condemnation of Hamas for its attack on Israel on 7 October leading to urgent huddles of diplomats on the chamber floor, but dropped that demand when it became clear the amendment would be resisted.
US says it is ‘working round the clock’ to try and secure ceasefire and hostage release deal, but is ‘not there yet’
Linda Thomas-Greenfield has said that the US is working around the clock to try and get a ceasefire deal and hostage release deal done, but is not there yet.
She opened her speech with this message:
Colleagues, today this council spoke out in support of the ongoing diplomatic efforts led by the US, Qatar, Egypt to bring about an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, secure the immediate release of all hostages, and help alleviate the tremendous suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza who are in dire need of protection and life saving humanitarian assistance.
The United States fully supports these critical objectives. In fact, they were the foundation of the resolution we put forward last week, a resolution that Russia and China vetoed.
But colleagues, the United States support for these objectives is not simply rhetorical. We’re working around the clock to make them real on the ground through diplomacy, because we know that it is only through diplomacy that we can push this agenda forward.
We’re getting closer to a deal for an immediate ceasefire with the release of all hostages, but we’re not there yet.
Now let’s be clear. A ceasefire could have come about months ago, if Hamas had been willing to release hostages months ago. Instead, Hamas continues to stand in the way of peace to throw up roadblocks cower in tunnels beneath Gaza cities and behind under civilian infrastructure and hide among the civilian population.
US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield is now speaking. She opened by directly offering condolences to Russia over the Crocus City Hall terror attack in Moscow.
UN security council passes resolution calling for ceasefire in Gaza after US abstains
For the first time the UN security council has voted for a call for a ceasefire in Gaza, after the US abstained, rather than using its veto as it has done on previous occasions. Russia and China have also previously vetoed texts.
The resolution that passed was written by the 10 elected members to the council, and proposed in the chamber by Mozambique’s representative.
Russia attempted to amend the text by restoring it to an earlier draft which included the word “permanent”, but the bid failed.
14 members of the UN security council voted for the resolution, while the US abstained.
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier threatened to cancel a planned delegation to Washington if the US did not exercise its veto.
In Israel, opposition leader Yair Lapid has described prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s earlier threat to withdraw a delegation to the US if it didn’t use its veto at the UN security council as “alarming irresponsibility from a prime minister who has lost it.”
Algeria’s representative to the UN security council, Amar Bendjama, is speaking now. He said finally the security council was shouldering its responsibility.
He said:
I would like to thank all the council members for their flexibility and the constructive way that allowed us today to adopt this long awaited resolution. A resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, in order to put an end to the massacres that, unfortunately, are still ongoing after the past five months.
UN security council resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire passes
The UN security council has passed a draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, avoiding a veto by any of the major powers.
Previous attempts to get a resolution passed had faced multiple hurdles as the US, China and Russia used their vetos. The US abstained.
More details soon …
The US has abstained
The US has voted against the proposed Russian amendment, 11 countries abstained including the UK. The Russian amendment, which is attempting to restore the text to an earlier draft, has failed.
The Russian representative says the changes to the text and the way it has been handled has been unacceptable. Russia is trying to restore the word “permanent” to the opening paragraph.
Russia is next to the floor, and has opened by saying Russia is disappointed with the way the text has been altered over the last 24 hours.
Mozambique’s representative has made the point that the ten elected members of the UN security council have repeatedly unanimously backed resolutions calling for a ceasefire. He said:
We have proposed the present resolution that demands an immediate ceasefire during the sacred period, leading to a permanent and sustainable ceasefire at the same time. The draft resolution demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and emphasises that humanitarian access must be allowed to address their medical and other humanitarian needs [in Gaza].
Mozambique representative Pedro Comissário Afonso is introducing the resolution, saying the situation in Gaza is a matter of gave concern to the entire international community.