World reacts to US veto on Gaza truce resolution at United Nations
Global leaders criticize United States for vetoing a critical UN resolution that urges an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza
Global leaders, international rights organizations, and United Nations officials have lambasted the United States for vetoing a crucial U.N. resolution urging an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. The failure to cease the conflict, which has resulted in over 17,400 Palestinian and about 1,100 Israeli casualties since Oct. 7, drew sharp criticism.
Despite support from 13 out of 15 current members of the UNSC, including the proposal's backing by the United Arab Emirates and co-sponsorship by 100 other nations, the resolution failed to pass. The U.S. vetoed the resolution, and Britain abstained from voting.
The move sparked widespread condemnation, prompting various reactions from world leaders and humanitarian groups.
TURKIYE
Following the U.S.'s blockage of the resolution, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan remarked that the country now stands isolated concerning the Gaza issue.
“Our friends once again expressed that America is now alone on this issue, especially in the voting held at the United Nations on Friday. American political system is now helpless on issues related to Israel,” he told state news agency Anadolu and national broadcaster TRT in an interview.
UNITED KINGDOM
Britain’s U.N. ambassador Barbara Woodward said her country abstained because the resolution had no condemnation of Hamas.
“Israel needs to be able to address the threat posed by Hamas and it needs to do so in a manner that abides by international humanitarian law so that such an attack can never be carried out again,” she noted.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The deputy UN ambassador of the U.A.E., Mohamed Abushahab, posed a poignant question to the UNSC: "What message do we convey to Palestinians if we fail to unite in halting the continuous bombardment of Gaza? Moreover, what message does this send to civilians worldwide facing similar situations?"
FRANCE
“Unfortunately once again this council has failed with a lack of unity, and by refusing to commit to negotiations the crisis in Gaza is getting worse and the council is not completing its mandate under the charter,” Ambassador to the U.N., Nicolas de Riviere, noted at the UNSC.
RUSSIA
“Our colleagues from the USA have literally before our eyes issued a death sentence to thousands if not tens of thousands more civilians in Palestine and Israel,” Ambassador to the U.N., Dmitry Polyanskiy emphasized.
IRAN
“As long as America supports the crimes of the Zionist regime (Israel) and the continuation of the war, there is a possibility of an uncontrollable explosion in the situation of the region,” Amirabdollahian told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a phone call, according to a ministry statement.
PALESTINE
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh characterized the outcome as "a disgrace and another blank cheque given to the occupying state to massacre, destroy, and displace."
Riyad Mansour, Palestine's U.N. envoy, labeled the vote result as "disastrous," urging the UNSC to stand against the war to prevent the destruction and displacement of the Palestinian people. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "Millions of Palestinian lives hang in the balance. Every single one of them is sacred, worth saving."
Hamas strongly condemned the U.S. veto, branding it "unethical and inhumane." Izzat al-Risheq, a member of Hamas's political bureau, declared that the U.S. obstruction directly implicated it in the killing of Palestinians and accused Washington of participating in massacres and ethnic cleansing.
ISRAEL
Following the vote, Israel’s U.N. ambassador Gilad Erdan refrained from addressing the UNSC. However, in a statement, he asserted, “A ceasefire will only be viable upon the return of all hostages and the dismantling of Hamas.”
GREEK FORMER FINANCE MINISTER
“Mr. Biden, by vetoing 13 out of 15 U.N. Security Council members’ call for an immediate ceasefire (along with the U.K.’s cowardly abstention), you have joined the Pantheon of recent War Criminals, along with George Bush and Putin,” he said in a post on X.
Source: Al Jazeera & Newsroom
