ASIATODAY.ID, UN – The draft resolution regarding Gaza proposed by the US at the UN Security Council is unacceptable because it allows the killing of Palestinians to continue, China’s Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun said on Friday.
“The US plan, on the contrary, is a precondition for a ceasefire, which is tantamount to giving a green light for the continuation of killings, which is unacceptable,” he said.
Zhang said that the draft resolution was very one-sided and did not expressly express opposition to Israel’s plans to carry out military operations in Rafah, Gaza Strip.
China’s Ambassador Zhang Jun said that the most urgent action the Council should take is calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, in line with the wishes of the UN General Assembly and the UN Secretary-General.
He said the Council had dragged its feet and wasted too much time in this regard.
With a view to safeguarding the UN Charter and the “dignity” of the Council, together with the view of Arab States, China therefore voted against the US draft.
He pointed to the new draft resolution from the 10 elected Council members now circulating: “This draft is clear on the issue of a ceasefire and is in line with the correct direction of the Council action and is of great relevance. China supports this draft.”
He said criticism by the UK and US of China’s veto was hypocritical, and if they were serious about a ceasefire, they should support the new draft.
Earlier the same day, the UNSC voted on the draft resolution, which was then vetoed by Russia, China and Algeria.
The three countries considered the call for a ceasefire in the resolution to be inefficient.
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said his country would not tolerate meaningless calls for a ceasefire.
He considered the call for a ceasefire in the resolution to be a fraud carried out by the US.
Before the vote, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the US had promised an agreement to end the fighting time and time again.
Now, the US has finally recognized the need for a ceasefire, when more than 30,000 Gazans have already died.
He said the US was trying to “sell a product” to the Council by using the word imperative in its resolution.
“This is not enough” and the Council must “demand a ceasefire”, he declared.
He said there was no call for a ceasefire in the text, accusing US leadership of “deliberately misleading the international community.” The draft is just playing to US voters, he said, “to throw them a bone” with a false ceasefire call.
“If you pass this resolution,” he told ambassadors, “you will cover yourselves in disgrace.”
He said that an alternative draft resolution, which was a “balanced and apolitical document”, was being circulated by some other members of the Council.
Speaking before the vote, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said her delegations wants to see an immediate and sustained ceasefire, but “we have to do the hard work of diplomacy” to make that aim a reality, and it has to be made “real on the ground”.
This is why the negotiations are going on in Qatar which will lead to a sustainable ceasefire, she said, adding that “we are close, but we are not there yet unfortunately.”
She said the draft resolution would help put pressure on Hamas to agree to a deal on ending the fighting and releasing hostages.
She argued that the resolution would at long last condemn Hamas, but also alleviate the terrible suffering and violence wracking Gaza. It also highlights that an invasion of Rafah would be a mistake. (UN News)
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