'Israel-Hamas Ceasefire' Security Council Resolution Rejected... US Veto Sparks Arab World Backlash

Permanent Member US Exercises Veto Power at Security Council
US: "Could Give Hamas Opportunity to Prepare for War"
Arab Countries Immediately Oppose... "Must Support Ceasefire"

A resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas was rejected at the United Nations Security Council due to opposition from the United States. The U.S. explained that it did not agree with the resolution because an immediate ceasefire would only benefit Hamas. Arab countries and Russia criticized the U.S. decision.

On the 8th (local time), the Security Council held a vote on a resolution submitted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but the adoption was blocked due to opposition from the permanent member, the United States.

The UN Security Council meeting taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA
[Image source=Yonhap News]

For the resolution to pass, at least 9 of the 15 Security Council members must vote in favor. Additionally, none of the five permanent members?the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France?may exercise their veto power.

In the vote that day, 13 members voted in favor. However, the resolution was not adopted because the U.S. exercised its veto power and the U.K. abstained. The U.S. explained its veto by stating that a ceasefire at this time would only benefit Hamas.

Robert Wood, Deputy Representative of the U.S. Mission, said, "The United States actively supports peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine," but also pointed out that "calling for an immediate ceasefire gives Hamas an opportunity to prepare for another war."

He also mentioned that the recent failure of Israel and Hamas to agree on extending the ceasefire was because Hamas did not want to release female hostages, raising allegations of sexual violence by Hamas related to the female hostages.

Arab countries and Russia strongly opposed the U.S. stance. According to the Associated Press, Muhammad Abushahab, Deputy Ambassador of the UAE who submitted the resolution, expressed disappointment and questioned, "If we cannot unite in demanding a halt to the bombings in Gaza, what message are we sending to the Palestinians?"

On the 7th (local time) in New York, USA, citizens marched attending a protest urging a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, hosted by 'Rabbis for Ceasefire,' in observance of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN, pointed out that "(Israel's goal is) ethnic cleansing of Gaza and forced displacement of the Palestinian people," and said, "If you oppose the annihilation and displacement of Palestinians, you must support an immediate ceasefire."

Dmitry Polyansky, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, described the vote as "one of the darkest days in Middle Eastern history." He also accused the U.S. of "sentencing thousands, or even tens of thousands, of Palestinians and Israelis, including women and children, to death."

Hamas also criticized the U.S. veto as unethical and inhumane through statements. Ezzat al-Rashiq, a senior Hamas official, emphasized, "The U.S. blocking the adoption of the ceasefire resolution is directly participating in killing our people and committing more massacres and ethnic cleansing."

The meeting was convened after UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, which allows him to request the Security Council to discuss a specific agenda item directly.

At the meeting, Secretary-General Guterres said, "The brutal attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 cannot be justified in any way," but also stated, "Israel's indiscriminate retaliation against Gaza is not right," calling for a humanitarian ceasefire.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.