Gaza in crisis as US, Russia, China, UK and France block cease-fire efforts

By Emre Basaran

ISTANBUL (AA) - As one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes unfolds in Israel's war against Gaza, the UN Security Council (UNSC) keeps failing to pass resolutions to achieve a sustainable cease-fire in the illegally blockaded strip.

The US, the UK, Russia, China and France are the permanent UNSC members and have the ultimate say over which resolutions pass and which don't. Blocking every resolution brought to the table so far, the permanent members of the UNSC draw fire over their apparent failure of the war-stricken Gazans, as any resolution would do nothing but help in achieving a humanitarian truce if ever passed.

The persistent failure of the UNSC to adopt resolutions aimed at curbing the humanitarian crisis and achieving a sustainable cease-fire has once again raised concerns over the effectiveness of the body, which is supposed to be the most powerful decision-making mechanism in the intergovernmental organization.

On Wednesday, the UNSC failed once again to pass two resolutions calling for a cease-fire. The resolution was drafted by the US, Israel's closest ally.

Previously, resolutions drafted by Russia and Brazil were also rejected again due to vetoes by permanent members of the UNSC.

The US, the UK and France, which are historically aligned with Israel, continued to offer their unwavering support to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government despite increasing calls for a humanitarian cease-fire while Russia and China stand on the other end of the spectrum, declaring their support to Palestinians and criticizing Israel's aggression.

- Clash of two blocs

The UNSC continues to display a deeply divided and partisan outlook, even in the face of the ongoing tragedy in Gaza.

Even though countries of the US-led Western bloc and the Russia- and China-led Eastern bloc both condemned Hamas for its attacks and called for a cease-fire, politics got in the way of achieving a truce.

The similarly worded resolutions, should they have been passed, would have called for a "humanitarian cease-fire" or "humanitarian pause" to enable safe delivery of aid for civilians.

The US- and Russian-drafted resolutions condemned attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, urging action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has seen more than 7,900 people being killed since the flare-up on Oct. 7.

The US-drafted proposal underlined the right of UN member states to self-defense, condemned the "heinous attacks" by Hamas and called on parties to respect international humanitarian law, said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the UN.

On the other hand, the Russia-drafted proposal called on Israel to cancel evacuation orders for civilians to head into southern Gaza.

"This is the last attempt by the Council to fulfill the noble functions entrusted to it. We urge you not to miss it," said Vassily Nebenzya, Russia's Ambassador to the UN.

- Which country voted for, which voted against

Late Wednesday, the Council's members first voted for the US draft resolution, which demanded humanitarian pauses in Gaza, condemned the Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israel and called for the "immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages" held by Hamas.

The resolution got ten votes in favor, while permanent members Russia and China, in addition to the United Arab Emirates, voted against. Brazil and Mozambique abstained in this voting session.

Meanwhile, the Russia-drafted resolution got four votes in favor: Russia, China, Gabon and the UAE. Nevertheless, permanent members, the US and the UK, voted against the bill.

Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland all abstained.

On Oct. 16, another Russia-drafted resolution on Palestine was also rejected.

China, Russia, Gabon, Mozambique, and the UAE voted in favor, while the US, UK, France, and Japan voted against. In the voting, abstentions came from Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Malta, and Switzerland.

The resolution called for an immediate cease-fire, access to humanitarian aid, the release of prisoners of war (POWs) and the safe evacuation of civilians.

On Oct. 18, Brazil put forward a resolution that called for humanitarian pauses in Gaza. The resolution got 12 votes in favor but failed due to being vetoed by the US. Russia and the UK abstained from this voting.

- EU countries fail to call for a humanitarian pause

On Monday, EU foreign ministers also failed to reach an agreement recommending a "humanitarian pause" to allow aid to reach war-stricken Gazans.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that there is "basic consensus" among leaders of the 27 EU countries but no unanimity.

European leaders are set to meet in Brussels later Thursday to weigh issuing a joint call for a humanitarian pause.

"The European Council expresses its gravest concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and calls for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including a humanitarian pause," Euronews quoted the final draft of the resolution, which will be voted on, as saying.