Russia and China vetoed an American resolution at the UN on Friday March 22 emphasizing the “need” for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza, with the Russian ambassador denouncing a “hypocritical” text that does not directly call for silencing the guns.
The American draft resolution, which insists on the “need for an immediate and lasting ceasefire” in connection with the release of the hostages, received 11 votes in favor, three votes against (Russia, China and Algeria) and one abstention (Guyana).
In the wake of the vote, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he wanted to relaunch discussions at the UN Security Council “on the basis of the French draft resolution” for “an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access” in the Gaza Strip.
So far, Washington, Israel’s main ally, has vetoed several resolutions calling for ceasefires. But with nearly 32,000 dead in the Gaza Strip, according to Hamas, and the risk of famine in the besieged Palestinian territory, the United States says it is redoubling its efforts for a truce.
The United Kingdom, a permanent member of the Security Council, and Australia also called on Friday for an “immediate end to the fighting” in the enclave, to allow “the delivery of aid and the release of hostages”. kidnapped in Israel on October 7 during the bloody Hamas attack.
Avoiding a land offensive on Rafah
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Friday. He was expected to speak about the urgency of increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. After five and a half months of war between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas in the besieged Gaza Strip, Washington is also seeking to convince its ally to avoid a ground offensive on the overcrowded town of Rafah – home to 1.5 million Palestinians – fearing heavy civilian losses.
On the ground, clashes continue in the Palestinian territory, particularly in and around Al-Shifa hospital, the largest in the territory, where the Israeli army claimed on Friday to have killed more than one hundred and fifty Palestinian fighters and arrested hundreds of suspects since the start of the week. This large-scale operation launched on Monday against this hospital complex pushed hundreds of civilians to flee.
