Russia and China vetoed the resolution submitted by the US to the United Nations Security Council.

The American resolution spoke of a “need” for “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza lasting six weeks.

The US draft resolution, which insists on the “need for an immediate and lasting ceasefire” in relation to the release of the hostages, received 11 votes in favour, three votes against (Russia, China and Algeria) and one abstention (Guyana).

Russia’s UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzia denounced before the vote a “hypocritical” resolution that does not directly call for a ceasefire, calling on SA members to vote against it.

“China and Russia simply wanted to vote against a plan drawn up by the US because they would rather see us fail than see the US succeed,” complained US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, denouncing a “cynical” decision.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, the US has consistently opposed the use of the term “ceasefire” in UN resolutions, blocking three resolutions that had the term.

However, they decided to put to a vote today a resolution that included “the need for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides, to allow for the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance (… ), and having that in mind, he strongly supports international diplomatic efforts to achieve such a ceasefire linked to the release of the hostages still being held.”

For its part, France, through the mouth of President Emmanuel Macron, emphasized that it will work for a new UN resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza. “After Russia and China’s veto a few minutes ago, we will continue work on the French draft resolution in the Security Council and work with our American, European and Arab partners to reach an agreement,” Macron stressed at the end of his EU Summit in Brussels.

The French foreign ministry announced yesterday that it had begun drafting a resolution, saying it would submit a draft if the US resolution was not passed.