RRussia and China on Friday vetoed an American draft resolution in the UN Security Council that called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The American UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed outrage after the vote in New York: There were two cynical reasons for Moscow and Beijing's vote. On the one hand, both permanent members have not yet condemned the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7th last year. On the other hand, both states voted against the draft, simply because it was presented by Washington. Accepting the draft, the ambassador continued, would have increased the pressure on Hamas to release the hostages. The draft also called on Israel to end all restrictions on humanitarian aid.

Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya recalled that Washington had repeatedly blocked a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the past six months – in the name of anti-terrorism policy. This claimed the lives of 32,000 innocent Palestinians. According to Nebensja, the current draft would not have prevented an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah. It is a “hypocritical initiative” that is due to the American election campaign. Therefore, Russia rejects it and supports an alternative draft. The representative of Beijing also called the draft “ambiguous”. In addition to Russia and China, Algeria also voted against the proposal, while Guyana abstained. Eleven Security Council members voted for the American draft, which reflected growing differences between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Before the vote, the Israeli government made it clear that, despite pressure from America and Europe, it was sticking to its plan for a ground offensive in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. “Even if the entire world turns against Israel, including the United States, we will fight until the battle is won,” said Strategic Affairs Secretary Ron Dermer.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken once again warned against an offensive on Rafah. That would be a “mistake” and unnecessary to defeat Hamas, he said before meeting Netanyahu in Israel on Friday. Next week, “alternative options” are to be discussed with Israeli emissaries in Washington in order to dismantle Hamas without triggering a humanitarian catastrophe in Rafah.