On Friday afternoon, there was a draft decision introduced by the United Arab Emirates, and co-sponsored by 97 international locations, calling for an “rapid humanitarian ceasefire” within the Israel-Hamas struggle. The USA was the one “No” vote, whereas 13 different members of the UN Safety Council voted “Sure”. The UK voted to abstain.
Present members of the UN Safety Council embrace the 5 everlasting members (the US, UK, China, France, and Russia) and 10 non-permanent members elected each two years by the Normal Meeting ( at present: Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates).
US Ambassador Robert Wooden acknowledged earlier than the vote:
Whereas america strongly helps a sturdy peace by which each Israelis and Palestinians can stay in peace and safety, we don’t assist requires a right away ceasefire. This might solely plant the seeds for the following struggle – as a result of Hamas has no want to see a sturdy peace, to see a two-state answer,
#BREAKING U.N. Safety Council rejects name by UAE-draft Decision – co-sponsored by 97 nations -demanding a right away humanitarian ceasefire – on account of U.S. veto
Vote 13 Sure, 1 No (US) 1 Abstain (UK)
‼️ U.S. earlier than the vote: “Whereas america strongly helps a… pic.twitter.com/EUCuSmB2Ox
— Pamela Falk CBS Information Correspondent United Nations (@PamelaFalk) December 8, 2023
In a statement launched by US Ambassador Wooden, he states:
American diplomacy opened the way in which for the primary vehicles that flowed into Gaza with support. In partnership with Qatar and Egypt, it helped reunite greater than 100 hostages with their family members and dramatically expanded support to civilians in Gaza, throughout a seven-day lengthy humanitarian pause.
Hamas, nevertheless, has a special set of targets. Its refusal to launch younger ladies hostages led to a breakdown within the pause and resumption of the combating.
This Council’s failure to sentence Hamas’ October seventh terrorist assaults – together with its acts of sexual violence and different unthinkable evils – is a severe ethical failure. And it underscores the elemental disconnect between the discussions that we’ve been having on this Chamber and the realities on the bottom.
An simple a part of that actuality is that if Israel unilaterally laid down its weapons right now, as some Member States have referred to as for, Hamas would proceed to carry hostages. Girls and youngsters. Aged males. Lots of whom, in keeping with survivor accounts, are being subjected to merciless and inhumane remedy.
And as of right now, Hamas continues to pose a risk to Israel and stay accountable for Gaza. That’s not a risk that anybody of our governments would enable to proceed to stay on our personal borders. Not after the worst assault on our individuals in a number of many years.
For that purpose, whereas america strongly helps a sturdy peace by which each Israelis and Palestinians can stay in peace and safety, we don’t assist requires a right away ceasefire. This might solely plant the seeds for the following struggle – as a result of Hamas has no want to see a sturdy peace, to see a two-state answer.