Russia, China Block US-Drafted UN Resolution Backing Israeli Offensive in Gaza
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Russia and China vetoed a United States-drafted UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution that asserted Israel's actions in Gaza, where at least 6,546 people have lost their lives in an ongoing conflict, were in "self-defense".
The draft resolution was put to a vote on Wednesday. The United Arab Emirates also opposed it, while ten council members voted in favor, with Brazil and Mozambique abstaining.
Israel initiated the devastating conflict on October 7 in response to a surprise attack by Palestinian resistance groups in the Gaza Strip, known as the al-Aqsa Storm operation. This attack was a reaction to the intensified crimes against the Palestinian people by the Israeli regime. The war has tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 6,546 Palestinians, including 2,704 children, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry.
Subsequently, the Council voted on a resolution put forth by Russia, which called for a humanitarian ceasefire and urged Tel Aviv to immediately revoke its directives for Palestinian civilians to move into southern Gaza.
The Russian-drafted resolution garnered support from Russia, China, the UAE, and Gabon, with nine members abstaining, and the United States and Britain casting votes against it.
For a resolution to be adopted, it requires a minimum of nine votes without any vetoes from the US, France, Britain, Russia, or China.
On the same day, Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, commented on the situation, expressing her dismay at the Western response to the crisis. She highlighted that the deaths of numerous children in Gaza had not been sufficient to rally Western support for a resolution demanding a ceasefire in the besieged coastal territory. Zakharova stated, "This is the most obvious and rather simple thing to do in this situation: Simply to produce a statement, a resolution, a document with a unified call for a ceasefire, settling the situation, and so on." She further regretted, "Even these numbers, the fatality count among the Palestinian minors, cannot compel certain political forces in the West to come to their senses and realize what is going on."
