(VOVWORLD) - The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Wednesday that would have called for humanitarian pauses in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants to allow humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip.
 A general view during the voting process at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at the UN headquarters in New York, US, October 16, 2023. (Photo: REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo) |
The vote on the Brazilian-drafted text was twice delayed in the last couple of days as the United States tries to broker aid access to Gaza. Twelve members voted in favor of the draft text on Wednesday, while Russia and Britain abstained.
US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the 15-member council after the vote that the actions taken must be informed by the facts on the ground and support direct diplomacy efforts. That can save lives, she said, adding that the council needs to get this right.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow for the release of hostages and humanitarian aid access to Gaza.