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The draft resolution submitted by Brazil calling for a "humanitarian moratorium" was vetoed by the United States in the Security Council.
The Council met today on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and voted by 12 votes in favour, 1 against and 2 abstentions on a draft resolution submitted by Brazil calling for a "humanitarian moratorium". The draft was not adopted owing to the veto exercised by the United States, a permanent member.
The result of the vote of the 15 members of the Council was as follows:
Yes: 12 votes (China, United Arab Emirates, Gabon, Mozambique, France, Japan, Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Malta, Switzerland)
Against: 1 vote (United States)
Abstaining: 2 votes (UK and Russia)
Draft content
The draft resolution firmly condemns all acts of violence and hostilities against civilians and all acts of terrorism, unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous terrorist attacks and hostage-taking carried out by Hamas in Israel since 7 October 2023, calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and calls for their safety, well-being and humane treatment in accordance with international law.
It urges all parties to comply fully with international law and strongly urges the sustained, full and unhindered provision of basic goods and services to civilians.
The draft calls for the lifting of the order requiring civilians and United Nations staff to evacuate all areas of Gaza north of the Gaza River and to relocate to southern Gaza, as well as for a humanitarian moratorium, full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for United Nations humanitarian agencies and their partners, and for encouraging the establishment of humanitarian corridors and other initiatives to deliver humanitarian assistance to civilians.
It stresses the need to prevent conflicts from spilling over into the entire region and, to that end, calls upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint and calls on all those who have influence over them to work towards that end.
The amendment proposed by Russia was not adopted
Ahead of this vote, Russia proposed two amendments to the draft resolution submitted by Brazil, calling for the addition of two paragraphs.
In the first amendment, Russia requested the insertion into the operative part of the text of the words "unequivocally condemns the indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian objects in the Gaza Strip, resulting in civilian casualties, in particular the heinous attack on the Ahli hospital, and condemns and rejects the action taken to blockade the Gaza Strip and deprive civilians of the means of subsistence, in violation of international humanitarian law".
The amendment received 6 votes in favour, 1 against and 8 abstentions, and was not adopted.
In the second amendment, Russia requested the insertion of the words "calling for an immediate, durable and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire" into the operative part of the text.
The amendment received 7 votes in favour, 1 against and 7 abstentions, and was likewise not adopted.
Neither paragraph could be added to the draft.
On both occasions, the United States voted against the amendments in separate votes.
On Monday, a draft resolution submitted by Russia calling for a ceasefire was also not adopted.
United Nations Photo: Manuel Elias
The members of the Council voted on a draft resolution on the situation in the Middle East.
Russia: The United States is not upholding the principles of the Security Council
In an explanation after the vote on the 18th, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, said, "We have just witnessed our American colleague once again showing hypocrisy and 'double standards'."
He noted that from the beginning, the United States had not opposed in principle the idea of adopting a humanitarian resolution, but in fact "they were not interested in it." He believes that the United States is not upholding the principles of the Security Council and that "they simply do not want to find any solution here".
United States: The draft resolution makes no mention of Israel's right to self-defence
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, pointed out in an explanation after the vote on the 18th, "This draft resolution does not mention Israel's right to self-defense. ”
She stressed that Israel had an inherent right to self-defence enshrined in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, which had been reaffirmed by the Security Council in previous resolutions on terrorist attacks, and that "the draft resolution should do the same".
While the United States cannot support the draft, she said, it will continue to work closely with all members of the Security Council on the crisis, and "we will continue to reaffirm the need to protect civilians, including members of the media, humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel."
Greenfield also pointed out that while US President Joe Biden and other senior officials are visiting the Middle East, the United States is also conducting on-the-ground diplomacy.
"Yes, resolutions are important; Indeed, the Council must speak clearly. But our actions must be grounded in facts on the ground and supported by direct diplomacy that can save lives. ”
Britain: The fact that Hamas uses civilians as shields is ignored
Barbara Woodward, Britain's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, also noted in her explanatory statement that Britain had abstained from voting on the draft because the text needed to spell more clearly Israel's inherent right to self-defence and ignored the fact that Hamas, the extremist group that controls Gaza, was using Palestinian civilians as human shields.
"They (Hamas) have ambushed themselves in civilian communities and made the Palestinian people their victims," she said. ”
Ng reiterated Britain's support for Israel's exercise of its rights to defend against Hamas, free hostages and enhance long-term security, while calling on Israel to "take all feasible precautions" to avoid harming Palestinian civilians.
She added that the UK would continue to work with all partners to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, ensure the protection of civilians and "work towards the peace and stability promised by the two-state solution".
China: The Security Council cannot stand still
Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, expressed his "shock and disappointment" at the fact that the draft resolution was not adopted, and regretted that the amendment proposed by Russia was not adopted.
He noted that the Brazilian draft resolution could improve and should send a strong signal calling for a ceasefire, the protection of civilians and the averting of a humanitarian catastrophe. However, considering that the situation on the ground in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating, and the air attack on the hospital incident yesterday (17th) has killed hundreds of civilians, "the Security Council needs to take swift and strong action."
Zhang Jun believes that the draft resolution submitted by Brazil generally reflects the general call of the international community, represents the first step for the Security Council to promote a ceasefire, and may be the only text that the Security Council can agree on under the current circumstances. "The countries concerned pay lip service to the fact that the Council should do the right thing, but their voting position makes us suspect that they don't want the Council to do anything at all, they don't want a real solution to the problem," he said. ”
In conclusion, he stressed that "the Security Council must not stand still" and should "earnestly fulfill its responsibilities and play its role" in ceasefire, the protection of civilians and the avoidance of greater humanitarian disasters.
UAE: Support a comprehensive humanitarian ceasefire
The United Arab Emirates is currently the only Arab country on the Council. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the country's permanent representative to the United Nations, said the UAE had voted in favour of the draft not because it was a perfect resolution, but because its text clearly spelled out the basic principles that all parties must adhere to.
She also stressed that civilian casualties from the conflict, including the attack on the Ahly Arab hospital in northern Gaza, were rising. "I may not be able to put into words the tragedy and fear we are witnessing in Gaza," she said. ”
"At every moment, this devastating war makes a mockery of the principles of international humanitarian law. Gaza has become devastated and everyone has lost their sense of security. ”
Nussebe reiterated that what the UAE supports is "nothing more than a comprehensive humanitarian ceasefire." This is not at the expense of Israel's security, but rather at the expense of people's care, burial of the dead with dignity and a new start in their lives.