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

UPDATES WITH VOTING DETAILS ON BRAZILIAN-LED RESOLUTION; OTHER MINOR CHANGES THROUGHOUT; REVISES DECK

By Emre Basaran

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

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

The council’s persistent failure 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 UN.

On Wednesday, the council 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 Security Council members.

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

- Clash of 2 blocs

The UN Security Council 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 Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians on Oct. 7 and urged action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has seen more than 7,900 people killed since 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.

The Russia-drafted proposal called on Israel to cancel evacuation orders for civilians in northern Gaza to move to 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.

- For and against

On 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 10 votes in favor, while permanent members Russia and China, in addition to the United Arab Emirates, voted against. Brazil and Mozambique abstained.

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

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 submitted a resolution that called for humanitarian pauses in Gaza. The resolution got 12 votes in favor, including permanent members China and France, but failed due to a veto from the US. Russia and the UK abstained.

- 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.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that there is "basic consensus" among leaders of the 27 EU countries but no unanimity.

On Thursday European leaders met in Brussels and said in a final resolution: "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.”