The Russian-American rivalry prevented the United Nations Security Council from issuing its first condemnation of Hamas late Wednesday.
Both countries submitted resolutions to the United Nations Security Council on the Gaza war and the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which killed over 1,400 people and took over 220 hostage.
Both the American and Russian resolutions condemned Hamas. The US resolution called for a humanitarian pause in the Gaza war sparked by the October 7 attack, and the Russian resolution called for a ceasefire.
US ambassadors to the United Nations took strong action against Russia
U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Robert Wood both criticized Russia for not supporting their document in favor of one of its own that was submitted at the last moment.
The United Nations headquarters building in New York City and the UN logo: Today’s United Nations needs to be reimagined and reformed to address the limited problems it can effectively address, says the author. (Source: CARLO ALLEGRI/Portal)
“It is disappointing that Russia would rather seek to score political points and further divide this council than address the current urgent needs of Israelis and Palestinians,” Wood said.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said those who rejected the US text were blind to Israel’s torment.
“Your decision shocks me to the core. In Israel we are fighting for our survival,” Erdan said.
“You cannot even condemn these attacks on civilians by terrorist organizations.
“If one of your countries were to suffer a similar massacre, you would certainly use much greater force than Israel.”
There is no doubt in your mind that this is the case. “A barbaric massacre requires a full-scale military operation against the terrorist who committed such inhumane atrocities,” Erdan said.
“How would Moscow react if terrorist death squads wiped out entire parts of Moscow? How would Beijing react if genocidal jihadists beheaded and murdered your babies?”
“If the Security Council fails to condemn the terrorists and their crimes against their innocent civilians, you would all be as shocked as I am.
“You would feel that there is a blatant double standard and the international community is blind to your ordeal.”
“Those who voted against the US resolution have shown the world that this Council is unable to carry out the most basic task of condemning ISIS as terrorists and does not affirm the right to self-defense of the victims of these heinous crimes can.”
The UN Security Council rejected the Russian text 4:2 with 9 abstentions.
The U.S.-backed text had enough votes to pass the 15-member body. Ten member states approved it, another three abstained. Only nine votes are required to pass a resolution.
Russia and China vetoed the US text. They are among five countries that have veto power over such measures in the United Nations Security Council.
The US had changed its proposal to ensure passage. An initial text said Israel had the right to defend itself and demanded that Iran stop exporting weapons to militant groups.
These points were then removed from the text in the hope of ensuring adoption.
Since both Russia and the US have veto power, both countries would have to support the same text for a resolution on the Gaza war to be adopted.
The UN Security Council meeting followed three failed attempts to pass a resolution on the October 7 Hamas attack and the Gaza war it triggered.
Two previous resolutions from Russia and one from Brazil had been rejected in recent weeks.
Portal contributed to this report.
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