US vetoes UN truce vote as Israel pounds Gaza

AFP | Palestine                                                       

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution yesterday calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with Israel continuing to bombard the territory as concern grew about the growing humanitarian crisis.

Global powers trying to navigate a way out of the spiralling crisis have come up short, with so-far fruitless push by mediators to reach a truce, and two rival ceasefire proposals put forward at the UN.

Yesterday Washington vetoed the first proposal, drafted by Algeria, which demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and “unconditional” release of all hostages kidnapped in the October 7 attacks.

Washington’s ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called the vote “wishful and irresponsible”, saying it would put “sensitive negotiations in jeopardy”. With US President Joe Biden facing increasing pressure to dial down support for Israel, Washington has put forward an alternative draft resolution on Gaza.

That text, seen by AFP, emphasises “support for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practicable” and expresses concern for Rafah. According to a diplomatic source, the draft stands little chance of being adopted in its current form and risks a Russian veto.

As diplomatic powers wrangled, Israel continued to hit Gaza with air strikes and ground combat that killed a total of 103 Palestinians in the past 24 hours, its health ministry said. The United Nations has repeatedly sounded alarm over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and warned food shortages could lead to an “explosion” of preventable child deaths.