Russia, China veto US-led UN resolution linking Gaza ceasefire to hostage release

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - Russia and China vetoed the latest attempt at the UN Security Council on Friday, led by the US, which linked a ceasefire in Gaza to the release of hostages by Hamas and called for support for diplomacy.

The resolution garnered significant support in the Council, with 11 of its 15 member states voting in favor. However, Russia and China, as permanent Council members, voted against it, effectively knocking down the resolution. Algeria also voted "no," while Guyana abstained.

The resolution, which emphasized the importance of turning the ceasefire, to be achieved through diplomatic efforts, into a sustainable one, pointed out that "Hamas and other terrorist and extremist groups do not represent the Palestinian people" and highlighted that Hamas has been designated as a "terrorist organization by some member states."

Commenting about Russia and China's vetoes, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US envoy to the UN, said, "Russia and China simply did not want to vote for a resolution that was penned by the United States because it would rather see us fail than to see this council succeed."