US-Russia Dispute Keeps UN Security Council 'remains paralyzed'
According to Russia, the US has “paralyzed” the UN Security Council, which has impeded its capacity to resolve the conflict in Gaza. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Russia has criticized the United States for its vetoes of ceasefire resolutions concerning Gaza, claiming this has rendered the UN Security Council ineffective in maintaining peace in the Middle East.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued this statement following the UN General Assembly’s passage of two resolutions related to the conflict in Gaza, including one that called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This resolution mirrored a document that the US previously blocked in the Security Council. In contrast to Security Council resolutions, those adopted by the General Assembly are not legally binding.
One resolution passed on Wednesday demanded “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” and the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” The second resolution expressed “full support” for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees and “deplored” Israeli legislation that restricted the agency’s operations in the West Bank and Gaza.
In its statement on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that the ceasefire resolution “largely repeated the content” of a draft that was vetoed by the US last month.
“Once again, since the start of the unprecedented escalation of violence and bloodshed in the Arab-Israeli conflict, it is the UN General Assembly that is adopting the urgently needed resolutions,” the ministry remarked. The call for a truce and humanitarian access are “moral imperatives in the current catastrophic circumstances,” it noted.
The ministry further asserted that the “UN Security Council – the main body tasked with maintaining international peace and security – remains paralyzed as a result of the use of the veto power by Washington.”
The US and Israel contend that an immediate halt to hostilities would primarily benefit Hamas, accusing the Palestinian militant group of obstructing negotiations. “It would be shameful and wrong if the General Assembly voted today to vindicate Hamas’ cynical strategy of stalling and obstruction,” said US envoy to the UN, Robert Wood, in a statement regarding Wednesday’s vote.
Israel has consistently accused the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) of secretly supporting Hamas and other militants. “Despite the overwhelming evidence we submitted to the UN that substantiate Hamas’ infiltration of UNRWA, the UN did nothing to rectify the situation,” wrote Israel’s envoy to the UN, Danny Danon, on X last month.
UNRWA’s chief, Philippe Lazzarini, commented on Israel's actions, describing its move to block the agency’s operations as an “ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human-development assistance and services to Palestine refugees.”
According to local authorities, nearly 45,000 Palestinians have lost their lives during Israel’s operations in Gaza. The current conflict commenced on October 7, 2023, when Hamas and allied groups launched a surprise attack on Israeli cities, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the capture of more than 250 hostages, of whom approximately 100 remain believed to be held in Gaza.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued this statement following the UN General Assembly’s passage of two resolutions related to the conflict in Gaza, including one that called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This resolution mirrored a document that the US previously blocked in the Security Council. In contrast to Security Council resolutions, those adopted by the General Assembly are not legally binding.
One resolution passed on Wednesday demanded “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” and the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” The second resolution expressed “full support” for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees and “deplored” Israeli legislation that restricted the agency’s operations in the West Bank and Gaza.
In its statement on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that the ceasefire resolution “largely repeated the content” of a draft that was vetoed by the US last month.
“Once again, since the start of the unprecedented escalation of violence and bloodshed in the Arab-Israeli conflict, it is the UN General Assembly that is adopting the urgently needed resolutions,” the ministry remarked. The call for a truce and humanitarian access are “moral imperatives in the current catastrophic circumstances,” it noted.
The ministry further asserted that the “UN Security Council – the main body tasked with maintaining international peace and security – remains paralyzed as a result of the use of the veto power by Washington.”
The US and Israel contend that an immediate halt to hostilities would primarily benefit Hamas, accusing the Palestinian militant group of obstructing negotiations. “It would be shameful and wrong if the General Assembly voted today to vindicate Hamas’ cynical strategy of stalling and obstruction,” said US envoy to the UN, Robert Wood, in a statement regarding Wednesday’s vote.
Israel has consistently accused the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) of secretly supporting Hamas and other militants. “Despite the overwhelming evidence we submitted to the UN that substantiate Hamas’ infiltration of UNRWA, the UN did nothing to rectify the situation,” wrote Israel’s envoy to the UN, Danny Danon, on X last month.
UNRWA’s chief, Philippe Lazzarini, commented on Israel's actions, describing its move to block the agency’s operations as an “ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human-development assistance and services to Palestine refugees.”
According to local authorities, nearly 45,000 Palestinians have lost their lives during Israel’s operations in Gaza. The current conflict commenced on October 7, 2023, when Hamas and allied groups launched a surprise attack on Israeli cities, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the capture of more than 250 hostages, of whom approximately 100 remain believed to be held in Gaza.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
