Watan-On Tuesday, the United States used its veto power in the United Nations Security Council against a resolution proposed by Algeria calling for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza for humanitarian reasons.
The resolution received support from 13 out of 15 members, with the United States opposing it using the veto, and the United Kingdom abstaining from voting.
The American veto blocks the ceasefire resolution for the third time
The resolution rejects the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians and calls on all parties in the war in Gaza to comply with their obligations under international law.
The resolution also demands “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”
This is the third time that the United States has used its veto in the United Nations Security Council since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7, 2023, against resolution projects calling for a ceasefire in the besieged enclave.
أمريكا تعرقل وقف أطلاق النار في #غزة وتستخدم حق الفيتو في مجلس الامن
– حكومة بايدن كتبت على نفسها النهاية pic.twitter.com/E8qULqMKzp
— كويـتي حُـ ـر 🇰🇼 (@Kuwaity__7r) February 20, 2024
In condemnation of the decisions of the United Nations Security Council, the Russian delegate at the Security Council said that Washington’s real goal is not to achieve peace but to protect its first ally in the Middle East, referring to the state of Israeli occupation.
The Russian delegate added that the United States has repeatedly ignored international treaties and resolutions, and efforts must be made to prevent the invasion of Rafah.
The Algerian delegate to the United Nations, Amar Benjamal, said before the vote that the international community must act quickly to achieve a ceasefire.
Benjamal emphasized that voting against the resolution project means approval of starvation as a method of war, while voting in favor represents support for the Palestinians’ right to life.
As for the American delegate to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, she claimed that presenting this resolution at this time is not appropriate and that an immediate ceasefire would prolong the conflict and the captivity of detainees.
She continued that to achieve a permanent ceasefire, we are working on an agreement to release the hostages, adding, “I understand the council’s desire to act quickly, but not at the expense of achieving lasting peace.”
مندوب #الجزائر في مجلس الأمن: التصويت ضد مشروع قرار وقف إطلاق النار في #غزة ينطوي على تأييد للعنف الوحشي والمعاقبة الجماعية للفلسطينيين pic.twitter.com/NdSM8MLL3w
— التلفزيون العربي (@AlarabyTV) February 20, 2024
Will Arab leaders act before it’s too late?
It appears that Arab leaders and their representatives will not go beyond condemnation and denunciation and will suffice with issuing formal statements, even if the Palestinians are destroyed.
This was evident in the Arab reactions to the Security Council decision and the American veto.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs contented itself with expressing its rejection of the repeated failure of the Security Council to issue a resolution to stop the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and denounced the international scene’s double standards.
The Algerian delegate to the Security Council said that voting against the resolution project to stop the ceasefire in Gaza entails approval of savage violence and collective punishment of Palestinians.
Saudi Arabia also expressed regret at the American refusal to adopt the resolution project to stop the war in Gaza and called for reform of the Security Council.
#بيان | تعرب وزارة الخارجية عن أسف المملكة العربية السعودية جرّاء نقض مشروع القرار الذي يدعو إلى الوقف الفوري لإطلاق النار في قطاع غزة ومحيطها، والذي تقدّمت به الجمهورية الجزائرية الديمقراطية الشعبية في مجلس الأمن نيابةً عن الدول العربية. pic.twitter.com/6dGDvdXmEW
— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) February 20, 2024
In the same formal statements that do not go beyond the circle of condemnation and denunciation, Qatar expressed its regret over the failure of the United Nations Security Council to adopt the Algerian resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In a similar fashion, as if it were a unified script for Arab countries, Jordan expressed its “regret and disappointment” at the failure of the Security Council once again to adopt a resolution to stop the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.