The United States has rejected a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that calls for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, where Israeli attacks have killed around 100 Palestinians in the past 24 hours despite a harsh blockade on aid. The United States was the only country to vote against the motion, while the other 14 council members supported it on Wednesday.
The resolution, which also called for the release of Israeli detainees held in Gaza, was deemed a dead end by Washington since the ceasefire demand had nothing to do with the inmates’ release. Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea made her nation’s opposition to the resolution, which was proposed by ten of the 15-member council, brutally obvious in remarks prior to the commencement of the voting. She remarked that this should not be surprising.
“Since the start of this crisis, the United States has made it very evident that Israel has the right to defend itself, which includes eliminating Hamas and making sure it never poses a threat to Israel again,”
she told the council.
China’s Ambassador Fu Cong said Israel’s actions have “crossed every red line” of international humanitarian law and seriously violated UN resolutions. “Yet, due to the shielding by one country, these violations have not been stopped or held accountable.”
What has been the humanitarian impact of Israeli strikes?
Israel has consistently rejected proposals for an unconditional or permanent ceasefire despite international appeals for a truce, arguing that Hamas cannot remain in Gaza or in power. It has increased the scope of its military campaign in Gaza, killing and injuring thousands more Palestinians while enforcing a harsh blockade that only permits a smattering of strictly regulated supplies in an area where hunger is imminent.
Health authorities in Gaza report that at least 95 Palestinians were killed and another 440 were injured on Wednesday.
As it suspended supplies for a full day, Israel’s military advised famished Palestinians not to approach roads leading to the US-backed aid delivery locations managed by the contentious Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), claiming the regions would be regarded as fighting zones. This action was taken after Israeli soldiers fired many times at relief workers, killing over 100 Palestinians and wounding hundreds more since the GHF began operations on May 27.
Israeli forces opened fire on people who gathered Tuesday before daybreak in search of food, according to witnesses. Global indignation has been sparked by images of malnourished Palestinians scurrying for meagre relief parcels, being corralled in cage-like lines, and then being fired at.
The Israeli military acknowledged firing on relief workers on Tuesday, but said the shots were fired after suspects strayed from a predetermined path. The family of Reem al-Akhras, who was murdered in Tuesday’s mass shooting in Israel, lamented her passing at a hospital in southern Gaza.
Rights organisations and the UN have frequently criticised the new assistance distribution procedure, which now comes from just three places, claiming that it does not follow humanitarian norms. Additionally, they claim that the assistance model militarises help by utilising private US security and logistical personnel.
UN assistance chief Tom Fletcher reiterated his call for the UN and humanitarian organisations to be allowed to help Palestinians in Gaza prior to the UNSC decision, emphasising that they had a plan, resources, and experience. “Open all of the crossings.” Allow life-saving assistance to flood in from all sides. Remove the limitations on the type and quantity of help we may bring in. Make sure denials and delays don’t impede our convoys,” Fletcher said in a statement.
