HAMILTON - The United States' veto of a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has drawn sharp condemnation from Palestine and the Hamas group.
Both accused Washington of enabling further suffering in the war-torn enclave, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
Palestine's Permanent Observer to the UN, Riyad Mansour, told the Council that the resolution had a "simple goal” -- to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and enable the release of hostages and prisoners, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
"This draft resolution is long overdue. It would have opened the door to ending the genocide, to halting engineered starvation, and to delivering life-saving aid,” said Mansour.
He said nearly two million Palestinians, including one million children, have been pushed to "the edge of famine” and confined to a limited space "clearly to facilitate their expulsion and annexation.”
Mansour urged Israel to lift what he described as a "punitive, illegal siege” and to open all crossings to allow the unimpeded delivery of aid.
He also called on UN member states to take independent steps in their national capacity to stop the "crimes against humanity” occurring in Gaza.
"This has to stop. It has to stop,” he said, adding that the UN and humanitarian agencies must be allowed to work freely across Gaza. "Let them work.”
He cited rulings by international courts and UN resolutions, accusing Israel of violating international law and committing war crimes.
"Can the Council say anything about that?” he questioned.
Mansour also confirmed that the matter would now be taken to the UN General Assembly in the coming days.
Separately, the Palestinian group Hamas said the US veto amounts to direct support for what it called "the Israeli genocide” against the Palestinian people.
In a statement, the group described the move as "an arrogant stance that reflects US contempt for international law and its outright rejection of any international effort to stop the bloodshed of the Palestinian people.”
Hamas claimed the US veto gave a "green light” to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "to continue the brutal genocide against innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly in Gaza,” accusing Washington of "full complicity” in the war.
The draft resolution, introduced by Slovenia on behalf of 10 elected Security Council members, received 14 votes in favour. The US cast the sole veto, marking its fifth such action against Gaza ceasefire resolutions since October 2023. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU