The resolution was rejected.
This Friday, the United States submitted to the UN Security Council a draft resolution mentioning an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, which it had previously ruled out.
Russia and China, permanent members of the UN Security Council bureau, vetoed the resolution, stressing the "need" for an "immediate" ceasefire in Gaza, the Russian ambassador denouncing a “hypocritical” text which 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).
“The vast majority of this council voted in favor of this resolution, but unfortunately Russia and China have decided to exercise their veto,” reproached the American ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, to the Council of security.
In the wake of this announcement, during his press conference after the European summit in Brussels, Emmanuel Macron said he still wanted to seek an “agreement” at the UN after the Russian and Chinese veto.
Three texts previously blocked by the United States
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, the Americans have systematically opposed the use of the term "ceasefire" in UN resolutions, blocking three texts to this effect.
After their last veto on February 20, they negotiated a text focused on supporting diplomatic efforts to achieve a six-week truce in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Also read Ceasefire in Gaza: “intentional timing” and “a double message”, the underside of the American resolution
While the United States is under pressure from the international community to soften its support for Israel, American Secretary of State Antony Blinken described this initiative on Wednesday as a “strong signal”.
This resolution “calls for an immediate ceasefire linked to the release of the hostages and we strongly hope that the countries will support it,” he assured in an interview with the Saudi television channel Al Hadath.
Before the Security Council vote, Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, called on its members not to come out in favor of an "extremely politicized" resolution, a "hypocritical" text which does not did not directly call for silencing the guns and, from there, gave Israel the green light for a massive ground offensive in Rafah, at the southern tip of the Gaza Strip, where more than half of its 2.3 million residents took refuge in makeshift housing.
“This would free Israel's hands and result in all of Gaza and its population facing destruction, devastation or expulsion,” Nebenzia argued.