NEW YORK — The project Russia had put forward
in the United Nations Security Council failed to garner the minimum required votes
and was effectively rejected on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
اضافة اعلان
The resolution had aimed to call for a
humanitarian ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. The
text condemned violence against civilians and all acts of terrorism, without explicitly
naming any particular party. The draft resolution received 5 votes in favor, 4
against, and 6 abstentions. In favor were Russia, the United Arab Emirates,
Gabon, and Mozambique. Voting against were the United States, Britain, France,
and Japan. Meanwhile, Albania, Brazil, Ghana, Malta, Switzerland, and Ecuador
abstained, the Jordan News Agency, Petra reported.
Israel’s actions cannot be categorized as
self-defense
Ambassador Mahmoud Al-Hamoud, the Permanent
Representative of Jordan to the UN emphasized that Israel's actions could not
be categorized as self-defense. He pointed to the International Court of
Justice's advisory opinion on the separation wall in 2004, which did not grant
Israel the right to self-defense in the
occupied Palestinian territory. He
stressed that Israel's military actions in Gaza failed to meet the minimum
standards outlined by international humanitarian law.
The Arab Group reiterated that a just and
comprehensive peace, in line with international legitimacy and the
Arab Peace initiative, is the strategic Arab choice and the sole path to safeguard the
entire region from the cycle of violence.
Israel cannot achieve security and peace unless
Palestinian people obtained security and freedomIn his closing remarks, Hamoud asserted that
Israel would not achieve security and peace unless the Palestinian people
obtained security and freedom in their independent state, with East Jerusalem
as its capital, based on the borders of June 4, 1967.
The Russian Permanent Representative to the
Security Council, Vassily Nebenzia, expressed disappointment that the Council
remained beholden to the self-interest of Western delegations. He stated that
their resolution calling for a
humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza had achieved its
objective.
Chinese representative calls for adherence to
international humanitarian law
The Chinese representative called for
adherence to international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians. He
urged Israel to halt its collective punishment of the people of Gaza.
The UAE's representative at the
United Nations emphasized that the people of Gaza were enduring a brutal war at the hands of
the Israeli occupying army. She insisted on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and
the unconditional release of hostages.
The Palestinian representative at the UN,
Riyad Mansour, underscored that what was happening in Gaza was not a
military operation but rather an attack and a massacre of innocent civilians. He pointed
out that the health system in Gaza had completely collapsed due to Israeli
airstrikes and the imposed blockade.
On the other hand, the U.S. representative,
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, criticized the Russian resolution, stating that it had
been presented without prior consultations and had failed to mention
Hamas,
which she accused of causing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Similarly, the
British representative in the Security Council did not lend support to the
Russian resolution.
Russia had proposed the draft text on Friday,
which also called for the release of hostages, the delivery of humanitarian
aid, and the safe evacuation of needy civilians. The Council suspended the
session immediately after opening it and held closed consultations at the
request of the UAE. After 90 minutes, the members returned to their seats to
vote solely on the Russian draft.
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