The UN Security Council convened on Monday and voted against a resolution proposed by Russia concerning the escalating violence in the Middle East. The motion did not receive sufficient support due to its failure to explicitly condemn Hamas for their sudden attack on Israel, which resulted in a death toll of at least 1,400 individuals. The council met as Israel prepared for an anticipated ground assault on the Gaza Strip, following a series of air and artillery strikes that reportedly claimed the lives of at least 2,750 people.
While the United States and three other countries supported Russia’s proposed text, four nations, including the US, voted against it, and six abstained from voting. A separate resolution introduced by Brazil, which strongly condemned the actions of the Islamist group Hamas, seemed to have broader support and was expected to be voted on the following evening.
Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stated that despite the resolution’s failure, it succeeded in prompting a substantive discussion in the Security Council on the matter. The United Kingdom, which aligned with the US in opposing the Russian proposal, criticized Russia for its lack of consultation and alleged that it did not make a genuine effort to seek consensus.
Israel’s representative, Gilad Erdan, emphasized the critical juncture at which the Security Council currently stands and urged the council to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization. He emphasized the importance of supporting the fight against terrorism.
Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour appealed to the council to act and prevent an Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip, which he claimed was taking a heavy toll on Palestinian lives, particularly in light of the severe humanitarian situation in the region.
Israel had severed the supply of water and power to the Gaza Strip and issued evacuation warnings to over a million people in the northern area of the densely populated enclave. The UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees warned of an impending “unprecedented human catastrophe” in Gaza if vital supplies were not restored.
