China Disappointed US Again UN Resolution Veto For Gaza

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning when delivering a statement to the media in Beijing, China on Wednesday (21/02/2023). (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said China was disappointed with the move by the United States (US) again filing a veto against the UN Security Council (DK) Draft for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.

"The United States' veto rights make the situation in Gaza even more dangerous. Various parties, including China, expressed deep disappointment and dissatisfaction with the veto," Mao Ning said when delivering routine information to the media in Beijing, China, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 21.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Tuesday (20/2) filed a veto on the draft UN DK resolution submitted by Algeria and even called it nonsense and irresponsible.

The US Veto is the third time on a resolution related to the Gaza Strip in Palestine since Israel launched aggression on October 7, 2023.

"The prolonged Palestinian-Israeli conflict has resulted in a bad humanitarian situation in Gaza and has a negative impact on regional peace and stability," said Mao Ning.

UN DK, said Mao Ning, should immediately take action to push for a ceasefire.

"This is a moral obligation that cannot be ignored by UN DK and is a legal responsibility that must be borne by UN DK. Moreover, this is a political requirement that must be met in accordance with the UN Charter," said Mao Ning.

According to Mao Ning, Algeria, on behalf of Arab countries, submitted a draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of all hostages, guarantees of access to humanitarian supplies, and the forced rejection of evacuation by Israel.

"The draft resolution is supported by the majority of Council members, China also voted in support of the draft resolution," said Mao Ning.

Despite failing to produce a UN DK resolution again, Mao Ning said China would continue to work closely with the international community to encourage UN DK to take further action to end the conflict in Gaza as soon as possible, reduce tensions in humanitarian situations, implement two-state solutions and create long-term peace and security in the Middle East.

In addition to the US which stated a veto against the UN DK resolution draft, as many as 13 UN DK member countries temporarily supported Britain abstain.

Greenfield said the reason Washington vetoed the draft resolution was because the draft resolution actually undermined the ceasefire negotiations that Israel and Hamas are currently working on.

Meanwhile, non-permanent members of the Algerian UN DK as initiators of resolutions assessed the US refusal to show that Washington supports violence against Palestinians.

Israel is still attacking Gaza and even targeting Rafah City in the southern part of the densely populated Gaza Strip.

Israeli attacks have killed at least 29,092 Palestinians and 69,028 others injured since October 7, 2023, 70 percent of the dead were children and women. Meanwhile, about 1,200 Israelis are believed to have died in Hamas attacks.