[[US Vetoes UNSC Resolution for Humanitarian Aid in Gaza Strip]]
The United States has vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that called for humanitarian pauses to allow essential supplies into the Gaza Strip. The resolution, sponsored by Brazil, received support from 12 out of the 15 members of the UNSC, with only the U.S. voting against it and Russia and the United Kingdom abstaining.
The veto by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, effectively halted the progress of the resolution. In her statement explaining her vote, Greenfield emphasized that the resolution failed to clearly acknowledge Israel’s right of self-defense, which she believes should be affirmed.
The resolution aimed to address the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which intensified after Hamas gunmen breached the Israel-Gaza barrier and carried out attacks in southern Israel on October 7. In response, Israel restricted the flow of essential resources, including food, water, electricity, and fuel, to the Gaza Strip, demanding the immediate release of 199 hostages held by Hamas.
The conflict has resulted in civilian casualties and displacement, raising concerns from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. However, Greenfield emphasized that Hamas’s actions were responsible for the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza and called on all member states to condemn Hamas’s terrorism.
The U.S. veto comes after another humanitarian resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict was rejected earlier in the week. This time, it was a resolution brought forward by Russia, which also faced opposition from the U.S., France, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
While the U.S. vetoed the resolutions, President Joe Biden addressed the humanitarian concerns related to the conflict during his discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He called for the delivery of lifesaving aid to civilians in Gaza, with the understanding that it will be inspected and provided directly to civilians, not to Hamas. Biden also announced the provision of over $100 million in humanitarian assistance for Gaza and the West Bank.
Israel has agreed to allow Egypt to send humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, on the condition that it only includes food, water, and medicine for the civilian population and does not reach Hamas. However, Israel will prevent any aid that ends up in the hands of the terrorist group. Additionally, Israel has stated that no humanitarian aid will flow from their side to Gaza until the hostages are released by Hamas.
The veto by the U.S. has elicited responses from different perspectives, with Russia pointing out the consequences of not supporting a ceasefire and Greenfield expressing disappointment over the lack of condemnation of Hamas in the Russian resolution.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to raise concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. While international efforts and resolutions attempt to address the crisis, the veto by the U.S. underscores the complexities and differing views surrounding the conflict.
