A draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip failed in the UN Security Council. Yesterday, in New York, the USA vetoed the proposed resolution by Council member Algeria.
Given concerns about an imminent Israeli military offensive in the Rafah area, the proposal was largely supported by the remaining council members: 13 of the 15 members voted in favor of the project, while Britain abstained.
The US had already announced that it wanted to exercise the veto. Israel's close ally tried in recent days to prevent the vote on the Algerian text – according to its own statements, so as not to jeopardize important negotiations on the release of hostages between Israel and the Islamic terrorist organization Hamas.
According to observers, Washington was also concerned about using the veto so as not to be seen as a pioneer in Israel's war conduct, which is increasingly criticized.
The US is still waiting with its own project
The US has drafted its own draft resolution – but has not yet submitted it to the Security Council for a vote. The text contains passages that indicate that the US is distancing itself from the Israeli military operation.
Among other things, with reference to the Israeli plans for Rafah, it is said that “a large-scale ground offensive should not be carried out in the current circumstances”. The text also calls for a “temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible”.
During the discussion on the Algerian project, Israel once again vehemently rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The “absurd word ceasefire” is constantly mentioned “as if it were a silver bullet, a magical solution to all the problems in the region”, said Israeli ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan.