The United Nations Security Council is facing hindrances from Western interests, according to Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN. He made this claim after the council rejected a resolution proposed by Russia regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The resolution aimed to condemn all acts of terrorism and violence against civilians in the region. It also called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian armed groups and emphasized the release of all hostages. However, the resolution failed to secure the necessary nine votes for adoption. It received support from Russia, China, the United Arab Emirates, and Mozambique, but the US, Great Britain, France, and Japan voted against it, and six countries abstained.
Nebenzia expressed regret that the UN Security Council had once again become a hostage to the aspirations of Western countries. He criticized the inability of the council to send a clear and strong collective message to de-escalate the situation, referring to it as the largest outbreak of violence in the Middle East in recent decades. Nebenzia also stated that the expectations of the entire world for the Security Council to take action to stop the bloodshed had been extinguished by Western delegations.
Notably, only one delegation provided substantive comments and fundamental reasoned objections to Russia’s resolution. The majority of countries who opposed the resolution failed to present any substantial arguments against it. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Permanent Representative to the UN, explained that the US voted against the resolution because it did not explicitly condemn Hamas.
Before the vote, Nebenzia clarified that the draft resolution did not mention Hamas intentionally as it primarily focused on the humanitarian aspect of the conflict. The recent escalation began with the Palestinian armed group launching thousands of missiles at Israel and sending militants across the border from Gaza, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,400 Israelis. In response, Israel declared “war” on Hamas, implemented a blockade of Gaza, and initiated an unprecedented bombing campaign in the region. Palestinian officials have reported over 2,800 fatalities in Gaza over the past 10 days.
This ongoing conflict has raised concerns worldwide, with calls for immediate action to prevent further loss of lives and destruction. The UN Security Council plays a crucial role in addressing such crises, but the influence of Western interests appears to be impeding the council’s efficacy. The situation in the Middle East urgently requires a united and decisive effort from the international community to de-escalate tensions and promote peace in the region. It is imperative that all stakeholders actively engage in dialogue and work towards finding a lasting solution to prevent further suffering and instability.
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