US Vetoes UN Cease-Fire Resolution in Gaza Strip Amid Ongoing Negotiations
The United States has once again vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. The US argues that the resolution would undermine ongoing negotiations for a six-week pause in fighting, which aims to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and provide additional humanitarian aid to civilians. The resolution, introduced by Algeria on behalf of the Arab group of UN members, was met with opposition from the US, who claimed it would give Hamas something without requiring anything in return.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that the resolution would send the wrong message to Hamas and called on council members to support an alternative US resolution. The US draft resolution demands that Israel agree to a temporary cease-fire to enable the release of hostages and take immediate measures to allow the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
However, the US appeals to Israel have not been met with positive responses, at least publicly. President Biden has become increasingly direct in his criticism of Israeli military tactics, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains steadfast in his pursuit of a total victory over Hamas.
The US stood alone in opposing the immediate cease-fire, with Britain abstaining from the vote. The rest of the council’s members voted in favor of the Algerian resolution, expressing their frustration with the situation in Gaza. French Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière stated that the human toll and humanitarian situation in Gaza are intolerable and that Israeli operations must stop. China’s envoy, Zhang Jun, criticized the US for stifling council consensus through its use of the veto.
The veto has been seen as a disappointment and obstruction by Egyptian Ambassador Osama Mahmoud Abdel Khalek Mahmoud, who is part of the hostage negotiation effort between Israel and Hamas. Mahmoud believes that the vetoed resolution would have created conditions conducive to the success of the negotiations.
The negotiations themselves have not been progressing as expected, despite initial good progress. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani expressed disappointment at the lack of recent progress and stated that a deal could happen soon if agreements on outstanding issues are reached in the next few days.
To address the situation, the Biden administration has dispatched National Security Council Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk to Cairo and Tel Aviv to work on securing a hostage deal. The US is aiming to expand on a previous week-long pause in the Israel-Gaza war and achieve a six-week cessation of hostilities. The proposed US resolution, for the first time, refers to it as a “cease-fire” and includes demands on both Israel and Hamas.
The ongoing operations in Gaza have resulted in a significant number of casualties and displaced civilians. Aid deliveries have been challenging, with the World Food Program suspending aid deliveries to the north due to safety concerns. Israel has accused UNRWA, the main distributor of humanitarian assistance, of collaborating with Hamas.
Many displaced individuals have sought refuge in Rafah along the Egyptian border after Israel shifted its offensive to Khan Younis. Israel is pursuing Hamas leaders who have taken refuge in tunnels. The US has warned Israel against attacking Rafah without a credible plan to protect civilians, emphasizing the importance of their safety and security.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that Israel will continue the war until all its goals are achieved and has dismissed calls to call off or delay a Rafah offensive. The deadline for achieving a hostage deal is approaching, with Hamas’s counterproposal for the release of Palestinian prisoners being described as “delusional” by Israel.
The biggest challenge in the negotiations is now humanitarian aid, with Hamas demanding increased aid deliveries. Negotiators are concerned that without new routes opening up, it will be difficult to meet Hamas’s demands.
