The US is threatening to veto a new ceasefire resolution in Gaza at the UN Security Council
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield has warned that Washington will not accept a resolution proposed by Algeria calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza if it is voted on in the UN Security Council.
In a statement on Saturday, Thomas-Greenfield said the US was working on an agreement between Israel and Hamas that would see the release of hostages and a halt to fighting for at least six weeks.
“Over the past week, President Biden has called several times with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to advance this deal. While there are differences, key elements are on the table,” the ambassador said.
“We believe this agreement represents the best opportunity to reunite all hostages with their families and allow for a long-term pause in the fighting that will allow more food, water, fuel, medicine and other essential supplies to reach the hands of Palestinian citizens” who desperately need them, he added. .
“The resolution introduced in the Security Council, on the contrary, cannot achieve these results and can even work against them. Therefore, the United States does not support action on this draft resolution. If it is put to a vote. As amended, it will not be adopted,” Thomas-Greenfield continued.
This Wednesday, Arab states at the UN reaffirmed their support for the Algerian draft resolution, which calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and uninterrupted humanitarian relief between Israel's imminent ground occupation of Rafah. At a news conference with other members, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, urged the UN to act and said the group believed there was “massive” support for the proposed resolution.
In his report this Saturday, Thomas-Greenfield said the UN He called on the Security Council to ensure that “any action we take in the coming days will increase the pressure on Hamas to accept the proposal on the table” and that the US would continue to do so. To engage in diplomacy, the US said it would “be realistic” with Israeli and regional leaders about its expectations for the safety of Rafah's more than one million citizens.
“It is critical that other parties give this process a better chance of success, rather than press for measures that put it, and the possibility of a lasting resolution of hostilities, at stake,” the statement said.
