Brief Summary
The UN Security Council convened to vote on a draft resolution addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The resolution failed to pass due to a veto from a permanent member, despite receiving 14 votes in favor. The US representative stated the resolution was unacceptable because it did not condemn Hamas, call for their disarmament, or acknowledge Israel's right to self-defense. The representative from Pakistan expressed deep regret over the council's failure to act, emphasizing the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and accusing Israel of war crimes and genocide.
- The US vetoed the resolution because it didn't condemn Hamas and undermined Israel's security.
- Pakistan criticized the council's inaction, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis and accusing Israel of war crimes.
- The failed resolution underscores the deep divisions within the Security Council regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Voting Results and Initial Reactions
The UN Security Council voted on a draft resolution concerning the situation in Gaza. The results were 14 votes in favor, one vote against, and zero abstentions. However, the resolution was not adopted because a permanent member of the council cast a negative vote, effectively vetoing it.
US Explanation for Veto
The US representative explained that the United States opposed the resolution because it failed to condemn Hamas, demand their disarmament, and acknowledge Israel's right to defend itself. The US emphasized that Hamas initiated the conflict on October 7th, 2023, perpetrating a massacre of Jews and continuing to threaten Israel's security while using Palestinian civilians as human shields. The US also criticized the resolution for drawing a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas, undermining diplomatic efforts, and failing to address the issue of Hamas diverting aid. The US urged the UN to support the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to ensure aid delivery without Hamas interference and called for Hamas's removal from Gaza.
Pakistan's Response to the Veto
The representative from Pakistan expressed deep regret over the Security Council's failure to adopt the resolution, calling it a "sad day" and a "low" in the council's history. Pakistan argued that the veto sent a dangerous message that Palestinian lives are dispensable and accused the council of being immobilized in the face of mass suffering and atrocity. The representative highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, describing it as a collapse of humanity and international law, with over 54,000 civilians killed, including thousands of women and children. Pakistan condemned the killing of Palestinian civilians seeking food as a war crime and criticized the provision of aid via airdrops or armed escorts as a spectacle and a moral failure. The representative reaffirmed Pakistan's support for the Palestinian people and called for an immediate ceasefire, full humanitarian access, and a just solution based on a two-state solution with pre-1967 borders.
Concluding Remarks and Rebuttals
The US representative responded to Pakistan's comments, reiterating Israel's right to defend itself and stating that Hamas is responsible for the loss of civilian life in Gaza by not releasing hostages and agreeing to a ceasefire. The US representative also stated that blaming Israel and accusing it of genocide is inaccurate and buoys Hamas.
