US blocks third Gaza ceasefire push at UN — RT World News

The United States vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, marking the only “no” vote on the resolution that had the support of 13 other members. Washington used its veto power to prevent two previous attempts, arguing that this step would not lead to a solution “Perpetual peace.”

The American delegation rejected the call for an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian reasons on Tuesday. While 13 countries in the 15-member Security Council supported the draft resolution drafted by Algeria, Washington was the only country to vote no, while Britain abstained from voting.

Demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire without reaching an agreement that requires Hamas to release the hostages will not lead to lasting peace. Alternatively, it could prolong the fighting between Hamas and Israel.” US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council before the vote.

Last weekend, Thomas-Greenfield indicated that the United States would oppose new ceasefire efforts, arguing that they could threaten ongoing negotiations between the warring parties to reach a temporary cessation of fighting and release all remaining hostages held by Hamas.

While the latest draft resolution did not directly link the ceasefire to the release of hostages, it separately called for the unconditional release of those captured by Palestinian militants during Hamas' October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.

Algeria's envoy to the United Nations, Ammar Benjameh, said that support for this measure amounts to… “Supporting the Palestinians' right to life” While opposing it is implied “An endorsement of the brutal violence and collective punishment they were subjected to.”

The Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, criticized the United States for its vote, saying: “The message today to Israel with this veto is that it can continue to get away with murder.”

Although Washington blocked three separate ceasefire attempts in the Security Council, it presented its own draft resolution proposing a shorter duration “Stop” to the conflict to allow time for negotiations, and for aid to reach the besieged Palestinian Strip. The competing resolution also urges Israel to refrain from launching a ground attack on Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of refugees have gathered amid the months-long Israeli offensive.

The project will be sponsored by the United States “Reaffirms its support for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practicable, based on the formula of releasing all hostages, and calls for the lifting of all barriers to the provision of widespread humanitarian assistance.” The text of the measure says:

According to local health officials, nearly 29,000 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli military operation, which began in response to the Hamas terrorist attack late last year. About 1,200 people were killed in the surprise attack while Palestinian militants took more than 250 hostages to Gaza. Dozens of hostages have since been released as part of a series of prisoner exchanges during a week-long ceasefire in November 2023.