The United States has announced that it will veto an upcoming vote on an immediate ceasefire resolution between Israel and Hamas, set to be held at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) this Tuesday.
“The resolution put forward in the Security Council, in contrast, would not achieve these outcomes, and indeed, may run counter to them … For that reason, the United States does not support action on this draft resolution. Should it come up for a vote as drafted, it will not be adopted,” said the US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Last week, Arab countries at the United Nations expressed their support for a resolution drafted by Algeria. This resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the uninterrupted provision of humanitarian aid, in anticipation of Israel’s impending ground offensive in Rafah.
Instead of endorsing the Algerian proposal, Thomas-Greenfield urged the UNSC to support a US initiated plan. This proposal entails the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for a pause in the fighting for at least six weeks.
“We believe this deal represents the best opportunity to reunite all hostages with their families and enable a prolonged pause in fighting, that would allow for more lifesaving food, water, fuel, medicine, and other essentials to get into the hands of Palestinian civilians who desperately need it,” she said.
The US Ambassador also touted President Biden’s commitment to diplomacy and intention to engage in transparent discussions with Israeli and regional leaders to ensure the protection of the civilian population in Rafah.
