UN Security Council rejects US-proposed Gaza resolution

The United Nations Security Council on Friday rejected a U.S.-backed resolution that called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and a release of all hostages held by Hamas, after Russia and China voted against the proposal.

The final vote on the resolution was 11 in favor, three votes against and one abstention. Russia and China are permanent members of the council and have veto power.

The resolution was a major shift for the U.S., which had previously blocked any calls for a cease-fire.

But the proposal tied a cease-fire and humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza to the need for the release of all hostages.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya voiced concerns with the resolution, saying it would prevent action that would secure an actual and unconditional cease-fire.

“We will no longer tolerate pointless resolutions which do not contain a call for a cease-fire, which lead us to nowhere,” he said. “This would free the hands of Israel, and it would result in all of Gaza, its entire population, having to face destruction, devastation or expulsion.”

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the resolution would put pressure on Hamas to accept ongoing negotiations to secure a temporary cease-fire and hostage release.

“Every day without a deal means more needless suffering. This resolution will move us closer to securing that deal, and help us alleviate that suffering,” she said. “This is a strong resolution — it’s the byproduct of exhaustive, inclusive negotiations. It reflects the consensus of this council.

“And it does more than just call for a cease-fire,” she added. “It helps to make that cease-fire possible. It would be a historic mistake for the council to not adopt this text.”

After the vote, Thomas-Greenfield slammed Russia and China for voting against the resolution, accusing them both of being “petty.”

“Russia and China simply did not want to vote for a resolution that was penned by the United States, because it would rather see us fail than to see this council succeed,” she said, “even after inclusive consultations over weeks and weeks, even after negotiations and edits produced the draft that received overwhelming council support.”

The U.S. has vetoed three previous resolutions before the Security Council that called for a cease-fire without any conditions, such as the release of hostages.

Israel is waging a war against Hamas in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people. Another roughly 250 people were kidnapped, with 100 believed to still be alive in Gaza.

More than 31,000 people in Gaza have been killed in the ensuing war, and the U.N. is warning of a famine in the territory’s north, which has been wrecked by the war. Israel has becoming increasingly isolated internationally over the war, and tensions are also flaring between its government — led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — and Democrats in Washington.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this week that negotiations to secure a cease-fire are “getting closer” but noted there was still a bridge to cross.

Hamas wants to see a permanent cease-fire and an end to the war, but Israel is vowing to fight on until the Palestinian militant group is destroyed.

China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said the “overwhelming consensus” of the Security Council is for an unconditional cease-fire. He also raised concerns about the resolution allowing Israel to move into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are sheltered. Israel has accused Hamas of hiding battalions there.

Algeria, which proposed the last unconditional cease-fire the U.S. vetoed, also voted against the latest resolution Friday.

Algeria’s U.N. Ambassador Amar Bendjama said there was an “urgency” for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire, arguing the U.S. resolution “does not convey a clear message of peace.”

“We echo the demands of millions of people,” he said. “The draft resolution falls short of our expectations.”