Text receives significant support at Security Council, but is thwarted by Russia, China opposition
\n WASHINGTON
\nThe United Nations Security Council on Friday failed to pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of a hostage deal after Russia and China vetoed the measure proposed by the United States.
\nThe resolution called for an \u201cimmediate and sustained ceasefire\u201d lasting roughly six weeks that would protect civilians and allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
\n\u201cThe vast majority of this council voted in favour of this resolution, but unfortunately Russia and China decided to exercise its veto,\u201d US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council.
\nBefore the vote, she said it would be a \u201chistoric mistake\u201d for the council not to adopt the resolution.
\nRussia\u2019s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, also speaking before the vote, called on members not to vote in favour of the resolution. He said the resolution was \u201cexceedingly politicized\u201d and contained an effective green light for Israel to mount a military operation in Rafah on the southern tip of the Gaza Strip, where more than half of its 2.3 million residents have been sheltering in makeshift tents to escape the Israeli assault farther north.
\n\u201cThis would free the hands of Israel and it would result in all of Gaza and its entire population, having to face destruction, devastation, or expulsion,\u201d Nebenzia told the meeting.
\nHe said a number of non-permanent members of the Security Council had drafted an alternate resolution, which he called a balanced document, and said there was no reason for members not to support it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Text receives significant support at Security Council, but is thwarted by Russia, China opposition WASHINGTON The United Nations Security Council on Friday failed to pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of a hostage deal after Russia and China vetoed the measure proposed by the United States. The resolution called […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":395703,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-395677","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n