02/21/2024

U.S. Vetoes U.N. Proposal for Immediate Gaza Cease-fire

The action drew ire from many sensitive to the Palestinian cause

The United States for the third time on Tuesday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, arguing that it would undercut ongoing U.S.-led negotiations for a six-week pause in fighting that would see Hamas release more than 100 remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for jailed Palestinians and additional humanitarian aid for civilians.

The resolution, introduced by Algeria on behalf of the Arab group of U.N. members, "would send the wrong message to Hamas," said U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, and "would actually give them something that they have asked for without requiring them to do something in return."

Instead, Thomas-Greenfield called on council members to support an alternative U.S. resolution, still in draft form, demanding that Israel — along with agreeing to a "temporary ceasefire as soon as practicable" to enable the release of hostages — refrain from a major ground offensive into Rafah and take "immediate measures" to allow the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave through additional land and sea entry points.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.