(Full) Security Council: US-proposed Draft for Sustained Ceasefire in Gaza Vetoed | United Nations

The US-led draft, which took weeks to reach a vote, stated the "imperative" for “an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides”, facilitating “essential” aid delivery and supporting ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas militants to create a sustainable end to the hostilities, tied to the release of hostages.

Here are the highlights of all this morning's intense diplomatic action.

HIGHLIGHTS
A US-proposed draft to end the war in Gaza was vetoed by permanent Council members China and Russia, in a vote of 11 favour to three against (Algeria, China, Russia) and one abstention (Guyana)
Several ambassadors voiced their support for a new draft proposed by the “E-10” group of 10 non-permanent Council members, which calls for an immediate ceasefire
The vetoed draft would have made imperative an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza, with an “urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance” to all civilians and lifting “all barriers” to delivering aid
Council members disagreed over elements of the draft, and some highlighted glaring exclusions despite having raised multiple concerns with the US during negotiations
Ambassadors largely supported swift action to bring food and lifesaving aid at scale into Gaza, where a UN-backed report on Monday raised alarms about famine as Israel continues to block and slow walk shipments into the besieged enclave
Some Council members called for pursuing the two-State solution to the ongoing conflict
Israel’s ambassador was invited to speak, calling the draft’s failure to pass and condemn Hamas “a stain that will never be forgotten”
For summaries of this and other UN meetings, visit our colleagues at the UN Meetings Coverage in English and French

Speaking after the vote, United States Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said “Russia and China still could not bring itself to condemn Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7th. Can we just pause on that for a moment? Russia and China refuse to condemn Hamas for burning people alive, for gunning down innocent civilians at a concert, for raping women and girls, for taking hundreds of people hostage. This was the deadliest single attack on Jews since the Holocaust.”

She also said, “If an alternative resolution comes up for a vote and does not support the diplomacy happening on the ground, we may once again find this Council deadlocked. I truly hope that that does not come about.”

For her part, Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations, stated, “Through this resolution the Security Council would have rightly and for the first time, unequivocally condemned Hamas terrorist attacks. We're disappointed that the council was not able to send this important message.”

Algerian Ambassador Amar Bendjama said, “Alarmingly, this text avoided mentioning the responsibility of the Israeli occupying power. these individuals were not lost through acts of self-harm, they killed. Their perpetrators must be held accountable.”

Chinese Ambassador, Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, explained, “An immediate ceasefire is a fundamental prerequisite for saving lives, expanding humanitarian access and preventing greater conflicts. The US draft, on the contrary, set up preconditions for a ceasefire, which is no different from giving a green light to continued killings. Which is unacceptable.”

Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, said to the council members that voted in favor of today’s draft resolution, “They told you that you should not be worried because the Russian Federation would veto this in any way, but you would not go against the US text. That is it. That's the whole scenario. So don't try to hypocritically tell us that you are now disappointed that Russia and China vetoed the resolution. Once again, today you have covered yourselves with disgrace voting for text which yourselves do not support and did support.”

Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan said, “The American resolution should it have passed would have marked a moment of morality for the UN, a place where good is evil and justice is injustice. It would have been the very first time that this council or any UN body condemned Hamas and their brutal massacre. Yet sadly, for purely political reasons, this resolution did not pass, and terrorists can continue benefiting from this council whitewashing their crime.”

00:00:00 - Opening of Meeting
00:15:13 - Vote on Resolution

Screenshot Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider

[Destiney]

Does the US think the world is blind! We see what’s going on and who is the real trouble and problem. What a shame.

[dbboy]

She said “release our hostages” this is truly United state of Israel

[whatdoyoucallthis]

thank you russia for vetoing this genocide enabling/apologist resolution

[rebonditude]

"US-proposed Draft to End War in Gaza" ??? I would have expected a little bit of honesty from UN Youtube chanel. It was clearly a free pass for Israel to pursue the killing while the Security Council would acknowledge being "concerned"

[aliwasti]

Wow is this crazy! There should be no cease-fire under this circumstance. The world is not blind anymore. Thank you, China and Russia for the veto!

[nawaababdul]

Guyana position are a clear reflection of current position on the ground in GAZA. This council and America resolution at no time blames Netanyahu nor isreal of lives lost, children, women, elderly, reporters, health workers, professionals, police officers, shutting of electricity, water, and supplies of food. Yet America congress continues to supply bombs, finances and international coverage ( protection for Netanyahu war crimes). Cease fire was veto by American ambassador times over.

[khaitsae]

US is complicit in Israel's genocidal campaign against Palestinians, so to trust that the US is putting forth a good / fair resolution for Palestinians would be foolish.

[duf]

How ironic US is calling Russia for its hypocrisy 😂

[zukai]

Not Siara Leonne voting in favor of this draft resolution, really some African countries are forever beholden to the settlers and colonisers.

[Rhawkeye]

She forgets to mention what Israel is comitting. She has not discussed the atrocities they are doing on the poor Palestinians including the ethnic cleansing, illigal settlements, hostages captured by the IDF, deaths of Palestinian children, women, medics, and journalists. You know clearly this did not begin on Oct 7th. Oct 7th was the day when the wool over the eyes of the world was peeled back

[herteert]

Great statement from Algéria. Thank you ambassador.

[zebakhawaja]

They vetoed all 3 Ceasefire and noe they saying they want Ceasefire... she, USA, is such a liar 🙄

[i_hate-sarah]

Reform the United Nations 🇺🇳 for world 🌎 Peace Free people free Palestine 🇵🇸 save Gaza

[jacintorodrigues]

We are disappointed with behaviour of BIDEN

[KlausJLinke]

If this was the result of negotiations and multiple rounds of edits, what kind of a joke did the US originally propose?

[ruqiasalah]

Russia and China are well behaved not like USA

[jituhanif]

Most Zionists don't believe that God exists, but they do believe that he promised them Palestine."

[vaclavkubicek]

Thank you Guyana, Russia, China and Algeria. For the other "disgrace".

[laithmughrabi]

Looking at the comments, i am happy that many catched the "US hero" propaganda.

[shamsyumar]

Guyana's Ambassador said it all, thank you Guyana members