Russia and China on Friday vetoed a US-led draft resolution at the UN Security Council on a ceasefire in Gaza.
Moscow has accused the US of a “hypocritical spectacle” that does not put pressure on Israel.
The US, Israel’s primary ally, has vetoed previous calls for a ceasefire and its resolution was the first time Washington would have backed “the imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire.”
Algeria also voted against the resolution while Guyana abstained. Eleven Security Council members voted in favor, including France and the UK.
Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia said the US was doing nothing to stop Israel and said Washington was speaking of a ceasefire while “Gaza has been virtually wiped off the face of the Earth.”
“The American product is exceedingly politicized, with the sole purpose being to play to voters and throw them a bone in the form of some kind of a mention of a ceasefire in Gaza,” he said.
He stated the resolution will, “ensure the impunity of Israel, whose crimes are not even assessed in the draft.”
The draft connects the ceasefire to talks led by Qatar, with the backing of the US and Egypt, to stop the war in exchange for Hamas releasing hostages.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, “Russia and China simply did not want to vote for a resolution that was penned by the United States.”
“Let’s be honest – for all the fiery rhetoric we all know that Russia and China are not doing anything diplomatically to advance a lasting peace or to meaningfully contribute to the humanitarian response efforts,” she said.
