United Nations, Oct 26: Russia and China vetoed a US-led draft resolution in the UN Security Council that would have called for humanitarian pauses in fighting to allow aid access to Gaza while a rival text by Moscow on the Israel-Hamas conflict failed to garner enough votes in its favour.
The 15-nation UN Security Council voted on two rival draft resolutions tabled by Washington and Moscow on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The first resolution by the US affirmed the right of member states to defend themselves against threats to peace and security posed by acts of terrorism. It called for all measures – specifically humanitarian pauses – to allow for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered access into Gaza, territory ruled by Hamas militants.
The Council’s permanent members Russia and China vetoed the US-led resolution. The UAE also voted against the draft, which received ten votes in favour (Albania, France, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, UK, US) and two abstentions by Brazil and Mozambique.
Before the vote on the resolution, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Washington has worked to forge consensus around a resolution that is strong and balanced.
The resolution failed to get adopted as it did not get sufficient votes in its favour. Only four countries – China, Gabon, Russia, and the UAE – voted in favour while the UK and US vetoed it and nine nations – Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland abstained. (PTI)
