Russian envoy says UN veto is not a ‘license to kill civilians’
Vassily Nebenzia urged the General Assembly to endorse a ceasefire resolution for Gaza, following the US's obstruction of the initiative in the Security Council. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Vassily Nebenzia has criticized the United States for obstructing a recent Security Council resolution aimed at establishing a ceasefire in Gaza.
The US, according to Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, has misunderstood and misused its veto power to facilitate the operations of the “Israeli war machine” against Palestinians.
On Wednesday, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a decision made three weeks after the US vetoed a similar resolution in the Security Council.
Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are non-binding and cannot be vetoed.
“The right of veto was not conceived by the founding fathers of the UN to give their friends a license to kill civilians, but it was designed as a tool to ensure that the decisions of the Security Council are balanced,” Nebenzia stated during his address to the Assembly.
He further expressed, “Unfortunately, the US never realized that, and is using this instrument to give leeway to the Israeli war machine.”
The General Assembly’s resolution called for “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza and was adopted with 158 votes in favor, nine against, and 13 abstentions. Israel and the US were among the nations that voted against the resolution.
On November 20, the US, a permanent member of the Security Council, vetoed a similar draft resolution that sought “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire” in the occupied territory along with “an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” This proposed resolution had garnered 14 votes in favor.
For a resolution to pass in the Security Council, it must receive at least nine affirmative votes and no vetoes.
US Ambassador Robert Wood stated at the time that Washington could not endorse a ceasefire unless it was linked to the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and other militant factions.
Nebenzia described the vetoed resolution as “the latest victim of the self-centered and narrow-minded geopolitical interests of the United States.” He accused the Democratic administration of out-going President Joe Biden of siding with “brutal force, inhumanity and total impunity.”
He added, “If you are a close ally of the United States, you have no laws or restrictions to abide by, and obligations under international law are nothing but hot air.”
Local officials report that nearly 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli military action since October 2023.
Israel has maintained that its offensive in Gaza will persist until all hostages are rescued and the threats posed by Hamas and allied groups are neutralized.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli cities, resulting in around 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of over 250 individuals. Israeli officials indicate that approximately 100 hostages remain in captivity.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
The US, according to Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, has misunderstood and misused its veto power to facilitate the operations of the “Israeli war machine” against Palestinians.
On Wednesday, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a decision made three weeks after the US vetoed a similar resolution in the Security Council.
Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are non-binding and cannot be vetoed.
“The right of veto was not conceived by the founding fathers of the UN to give their friends a license to kill civilians, but it was designed as a tool to ensure that the decisions of the Security Council are balanced,” Nebenzia stated during his address to the Assembly.
He further expressed, “Unfortunately, the US never realized that, and is using this instrument to give leeway to the Israeli war machine.”
The General Assembly’s resolution called for “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza and was adopted with 158 votes in favor, nine against, and 13 abstentions. Israel and the US were among the nations that voted against the resolution.
On November 20, the US, a permanent member of the Security Council, vetoed a similar draft resolution that sought “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire” in the occupied territory along with “an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” This proposed resolution had garnered 14 votes in favor.
For a resolution to pass in the Security Council, it must receive at least nine affirmative votes and no vetoes.
US Ambassador Robert Wood stated at the time that Washington could not endorse a ceasefire unless it was linked to the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and other militant factions.
Nebenzia described the vetoed resolution as “the latest victim of the self-centered and narrow-minded geopolitical interests of the United States.” He accused the Democratic administration of out-going President Joe Biden of siding with “brutal force, inhumanity and total impunity.”
He added, “If you are a close ally of the United States, you have no laws or restrictions to abide by, and obligations under international law are nothing but hot air.”
Local officials report that nearly 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli military action since October 2023.
Israel has maintained that its offensive in Gaza will persist until all hostages are rescued and the threats posed by Hamas and allied groups are neutralized.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli cities, resulting in around 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of over 250 individuals. Israeli officials indicate that approximately 100 hostages remain in captivity.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
