Meeting early in the evening, the Security Council rejected by 5 votes for, 4 votes against (United States, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom), and 6 abstentions a draft resolution presented by the Russian Federation by which the Council notably would have expressed his deep concern about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and called for the establishment of a lasting humanitarian ceasefire. China, the United Arab Emirates, Gabon, and Mozambique voted in favor of the text, as did the Russian Federation.
“Once again, the Council remains hostage to the desires of Western delegations,” lamented the Russian Federation after the vote which, it added, clearly shows who is in favor of a truce and of sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The representative of the United States, however, indicated that she was unable to vote in favor of the project due to the absence of any reference to Hamas. It is an affront to the victims of the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, denounced the representative who also affirmed that the vast majority of families in Gaza suffer the consequences of Hamas’s actions.
“Hamas must be held accountable for its actions. It does not represent the Palestinian people and it has done nothing to promote peace and stability, preferring chaos,” insisted the representative.
The same story from France and the United Kingdom, which found it unacceptable for the Security Council to ignore the worst terrorist attack suffered by Israel.
Japan, for its part, explained that it had voted against the project because of the way in which the text was presented. “Why did we have to put this project to a vote when we had the possibility of improving it? »
Ecuador also deplored the presentation of a draft resolution that had not been the subject of broad consultations, noting that another text proposed by Brazil, but on which the Council did not take a decision this evening, seeks to bring together all points of view. For its part, Switzerland explained its abstention by the fact that the Council cannot avoid clearly referring to international law and international humanitarian law in its resolutions because “even armed conflicts have rules”.
China justified its favorable vote given the seriousness of the situation, emphasizing that the safety of civilians is a red line that must not be crossed and pleading for the opening of a
humanitarian corridor. The Council must reach a consensus in a context where the peace process has derailed, it insisted. Also affirming that its vote in favor was in response to an extremely serious crisis, Gabon called on the Council to show more commitment to avoid a catastrophe with “irreparable consequences”. The draft resolution, however, responded to the need for a ceasefire, regretted the United Arab Emirates, warning that the specter of a bloodbath was looming.
Why is this Council not able to obtain a ceasefire to put an end to the massacres? worried the State of Palestine, noting that for 10 days, the world has watched Israel attack more than 2 million Palestinians. Alerting that “Israel has not spared a single Palestinian family in Gaza”, the delegation called in particular to stop the assault; to allow immediate and unhindered humanitarian access throughout the Gaza Strip, and to end the forced displacement of its people. Israel has no right to force the population of Gaza to choose between forced flight or death. And no one should entertain the illusion that killing as many Palestinians as possible will make Israelis safer, it said.
For the security of the population of Israel and its future, we will eradicate Hamas, warned the Israeli delegation, which recalled that this “barbaric group” massacred nearly 1,800 Israelis and took more than 200 people hostage. It also blasted the “absurd idea” that a democratic state can coexist alongside a “terrorist monster” that indiscriminately fires rockets against civilians. Nothing will change a genocidal ideology, neither the rehabilitation of Gaza, nor economic measures, nor the promise of a better future. But if Hamas lays down its arms tomorrow and releases the hostages, the war could end, it said, while wondering why such a call was not included in the draft resolution.
On behalf of the Group of Arab States, Jordan questioned the “silence of the world” in the face of the murders, getting angry at the efforts to “dehumanize” the Palestinian population. It’s a silence that speaks volumes, it lamented.
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION Presentation of draft resolution S/2023/772
VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation) said that from the beginning of events his country had called, in vain, for a meeting of the Council. He condemned the deaths of Israeli citizens and peaceful citizens of Gaza. He indicated that faced with the escalation, his delegation proposed, last Friday, a draft resolution for humanitarian purposes because without a ceasefire, it is impossible to deliver humanitarian assistance. Since then, only one delegation has expressed itself, and without making a proposal, he noted. He then thanked the delegations that co-sponsored his project, emphasizing that it benefits from the support of many Arab countries, as well as that of the State of Palestine. He invited Council members to support the text.
Draft resolution S/2023/772 was rejected by 5 votes in favor, 4 votes against (France, Japan, United Kingdom, and the United States) with 6 abstentions.
Statements after the vote
VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation) deplored that once again, the Council remained hostage to the desires of Western delegations. This is the only reason why the Security Council is not, today, able to send a clear message for de-escalation, when we are talking about a bloodbath. The whole world was waiting for the Security Council to react. This is not the case, for purely political reasons, he regretted. The representative also said that today’s vote clearly shows who is in favor of a truce and of sending humanitarian aid to Gaza. He then affirmed that although not adopted, the draft resolution achieved its goal: to launch a debate.
Explaining her vote against the draft resolution, Ms. LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD (United States), recalled that it was only a week ago that “the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust” took place. This exposed the painful scars of millennia-old anti-Semitism. Hamas has taken innocent people hostage, including Americans, and its brutality is reminiscent of Da’esh’s most heinous atrocities. The representative accused Hamas of being behind the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Civilians should not suffer from the atrocities committed by Hamas. This Council, the representative insisted, has the responsibility to resolve the humanitarian crisis, to unequivocally condemn Hamas, and to reiterate Israel’s sovereign right to self-defense.
However, the Russian Federation’s draft text does not mention Hamas, which is unacceptable because it ignores terrorism. It is an affront to the victims [she said], while emphasizing that the vast majority of families in Gaza suffer the consequences of Hamas’ actions. We cannot blame Israel and forgive decades of cruelty committed by Hamas. The delegate noted that as we speak, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the White House are engaged in intensive negotiations with Israel and other countries in the region to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages as well as humanitarian access and delivery.
