After the secretary-general invoked seldom used powers to secure a vote…
The United States single-handedly vetoed a United Nations' Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza on Friday. Our closest ally, the United Kingdom, abstained.
The Security Council's three remaining permanent members, China, France and Russia, and nonpermanent members Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates voted in favor of the resolution.
Speaking on behalf of the U.S. government, U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood said: “We do not support calls for an immediate ceasefire. This would only plant seeds for the next war. Because Hamas has no desire to see a durable peace…to see a two-state solution.”
The vote followed the decision of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to use the power of his office to push for an immediate cease-fire.
“I am writing under Article 99 of the United Nations Charter to bring to the attention of the Security Council a matter which, in my opinion, may aggravate existing threats to the maintenance of international peace and security,” Guterres said in the letter.
“We are facing a severe risk of collapse of the humanitarian system. The situation is fast deteriorating into a catastrophe with potentially irreversible implications for Palestinians as a while and for peace and security in the region. Such an outcome must be avoided at all cost.”
Article 99 allows the secretary-general to “bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”
The letter was addressed to President of the Security Council José Javier De la Gasca Lopez Domínguez but was distributed to all members of the council.
Throughout the letter, Guterres discussing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza while urging for the immediate release of all remaining hostages taken by Hamas.
“The international community has a responsibility to use all its influence to prevent further escalation and end this crisis,” he wrote. “I urge the members of the Security Council to press to avert a humanitarian crisis. I reiterate my appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared. This is urgent.”
The letter comes as Israeli forces storm Hamas' last major stronghold in southern Gaza and clear out the terror group from northern Gaza.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he wants the Israel Defense Force to oversee the disarmament and security of Gaza.
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