Russia and China used their veto against a draft resolution in the UN Security Council submitted by the United States as the draft does not demand an end to the Israeli aggression on Gaza, and it allows the occupation to continue killing Palestinians with impunity.
Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, stressed that the US draft resolution on Gaza is an attempt to make “Israel” escape punishment, indicating that the text did not include any call for a ceasefire.
Nebenzya added that the US administration is deliberately misleading the international community by using unclear language, considering that the draft resolution is merely manipulating American voters through a false call for a ceasefire.
During his explanatory statement following the Security Council’s vote on the draft resolution, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, said that “an immediate ceasefire is the basic premise” for saving lives, expanding humanitarian access, and preventing further conflict.
The ambassador pointed out that the US draft was “unbalanced in many aspects,” especially concerning Israel’s recent repeated declarations of planning military attacks on Rafah.
“The draft did not clearly oppose such actions, sending a very wrong signal with serious consequences,” the ambassador added.
The text of the American draft resolution allows the continued killing of civilians and lacks clear guarantees, said Algeria’s permanent representative to the UN, Amar Bendjama, pointing out that the Council must be empowered to impose a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Bendjama stressed that the draft did not mention “Israel’s” responsibility for killing the Palestinians and has fallen far short of the level required.
Based on a responsible attitude towards upholding justice, the United Nations Charter, and the dignity of the Security Council, and also due to the concerns and strong dissatisfaction from Arab countries towards the draft, China, along with Algeria and Russia, cast a vote against it.
