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

ADDS COMMENTS FROM UN MEMBER STATES

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."

The US envoy further accused Russia and China for are not taking diplomatic actions to foster long-term peace or make meaningful contributions to humanitarian response efforts.

Pledging to "work toward a deal alongside Qatar and Egypt," Thomas-Greenfield also said the US "will work with any council member that is seriously interested in adopting a resolution that will help make that deal possible."

In his address, Algeria's UN envoy, Amar Bendjama, recalled the draft resolution his country presented last month and said it was ultimately vetoed.

"We firmly believe that its adoption called have saved thousands of lives of innocent people," he said.

Noting that Algeria's "core concerns remained unaddressed despite the many circulated revised versions," Bendjama said, "The text presented today does not convey a clear message of peace," adding that it allows continued civilian casualties and fails to prevent further de-escalation.

China’s Ambassador Zhang Jun, who also vetoed the resolution, said "the final text remains ambiguous and does not call for an immediate ceasefire."

Welcoming the mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar and other actors, the Chinese envoy voiced hopes for all hostages to be released at the soonest.

- 'Crocodile tears'

Rejecting the accusations by the US and the UK due to China's veto, Zhang said: "They are groundless accusations. If the US was serious about ceasefire, it wouldn't have vetoed again and again."

"If the US is serious about a ceasefire, then please vote in favor of the other draft resolution, clearly calling for a ceasefire," Zhang added.

He also said the resolution "is a clear deviation from the consensus of the council members and fell far short of the expectations of the international community."

Russia's envoy to the UN Vasilya Nebenzya said, "We have heard hypocritical statements from some members of the Security Council who have been shedding crocodile tears about the Russian and Chinese vetoes."

"Today you have covered yourselves with disgrace voting for text which you yourselves do not support and did not support," he said.

Guyana’s permanent representative to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, said "this manmade disaster cannot be halted without an immediate ceasefire."

Acknowledging the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the US, she emphasized that the Security Council is obligated to firmly call for a ceasefire.

A new round of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas is underway in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Egypt and with the participation of the US, to reach a cease-fire and hostage exchange deal.

Recalling that taking of hostages is strictly prohibited by international law, Guyana reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

"Two wrongs cannot make a right and the Palestinians people should not be collectively punished, and themselves, held hostage for the crime of others," she added.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack led by Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed.

Nearly 32,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and more than 74,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.