US vetoes Arab-backed UN resolution for Gaza ceasefire

United Nations, February 20

The US on Tuesday vetoed an Arab-backed and widely supported UN resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in the embattled Gaza Strip, saying it would interfere with negotiations on a deal to free hostages abducted in Israel.

The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 13-1 with the UK abstaining, reflecting the strong support from countries around the globe for ending the more than four-month war, which started when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage.

Since then, more than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which says the vast majority were women and children.

It was the third US veto of a Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza and came a day after the US circulated a rival resolution that would support a temporary ceasefire in Gaza linked to the release of all hostages and call for lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid.

Every council member, including the US, expressed serious concern at the impending catastrophe in Rafah, where some 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge, if Israeli PM goes ahead with his plan to evacuate civilians from the city and move Israel’s military offensive to the area.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the US understood the council’s desire for urgent action, but believed the resolution would “negatively impact” negotiations on a hostage deal and pause in fighting for six weeks. If that happens, “we can take the time to build a more enduring peace,” she said. — AP

South Africa accuses Israel of apartheid

• South Africa argued at the UN’s top court that Israel is responsible for apartheid against Palestinians and that its occupation of land sought for a Palestinian state is “inherently illegal”
• Its officials were speaking on the second day of hearings at the ICJ into a request by the General Assembly for an opinion on legality of Israel’s policies in occupied territories

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