Since the outbreak of the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the United States has twice used its "one-vote veto" to block the adoption of the Security Council resolution advocating a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. But in a recent vote, the United States gave the resolution a rare "green light."
According to the global network on December 23, after several delays, the draft of the Palestinian-Israeli situation proposed by the United Arab EmiratesIt was finally adopted with 13 votes in favor, 0 votes against and 2 abstentions, and the two abstentions came from the United States and Russia, respectively.
It is worth noting that just before the voting began, Linfield, the US permanent representative to the United Nations, also said that "the United States is ready to vote in favor", but judging from the voting results, the United States has not fully fulfilled its commitments.
The scene of the vote in the UN Security Council.
In fact, on the very day that the Security Council adopted this resolution, Israel continued its offensive against Gaza, and Israel also declared that it "will not stop fighting until all Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip are destroyed."
It is obviously impossible for Israel to have such impunity that it is not possible to say that there is no acquiescence and connivance of the United States behind it. Just two weeks ago, the United States** also bypassed Congress and urgently offered Israel 130,000 shells, which were angrily criticized as "**."
So, if the United States is so resolute in its support for Israel, why did it abstain this time? The reason is also very simple, because under multiple pressures, even the United States is a little unbearable.
The first is pressure from the international community. As the fighting continues, people in Gaza have suffered heavy casualties, with more than 20,000 people killed, 60,000 injured and more than 2 million civilians displaced so far, according to official Palestinian figures.
People in the Gaza Strip.
The United States has always regarded itself as a "beacon of human rights" but has turned a blind eye to the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. Based on this, the United States has to put on a show.
The second is pressure from the Houthis. Recently, there has been a crisis in Red Sea shipping, mainly because of the partiality of the United States towards Israel, which has caused dissatisfaction among regional countries, and the Houthis have announced that they will strike at ships "linked to Israel".
This makes it very difficult for the United States to deal with it, and if it retaliates hard, it is very likely to provoke regional countries, lead to a further escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and may even involve the United States in it. But if we don't fight back, shipping blockages will affect U.S. economic interests.
Faced with a dilemma, the United States has come up with a compromise solution, while verbally showing softness and seeking negotiations; While co-opting allies and jointly escorting convoys, the Houthis did not accept this at all, and clearly warned that "they will attack the Red Sea convoy led by the United States."
Houthis. Under double pressure, the United States had no choice but to relent. StillThe resolution itself is a compromise formula that does not condemn either party, but stresses the need for humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and to create conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities as much as possible.
Compared to previous resolutions, the draft resolution is significantly more "moderate" in content and does not call for an immediate ceasefire. In this regard, before the official vote, Russia also proposed an amendment to change the wording, but the United States vetoed it.
It is for this reason that Russia abstained from voting. Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, Nebenzya, explained that the top priority at the moment is to demand a comprehensive ceasefire, otherwise the Security Council resolution will not be truly implemented, and the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip will continue.
Ambassador Dai Bing, Chargé d'affaires a.i. of China to the United Nations, also pointed out that the resolution had been repeatedly postponed for "well-known reasons" and that the wording had been adjusted too much and did not meet expectations.
Ambassador Dai Bing, Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations.
But in the current tense situation, the adoption of this resolution has increased the possibility of humanitarian relief in the Gaza Strip, and still brings a glimmer of peace to the people of Gaza in the midst of war.
Moreover, as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, China has made great efforts to promote a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, including providing $1 million in cash aid to UN agencies for relief of Palestinian refugees.
In addition, the international community is also making concerted efforts to bring the Palestinian-Israeli situation to an early conclusion. At a previous UN General Assembly, a total of 186 countries voted, of which 153 supported an early humanitarian ceasefire between Palestine and Israel, while only a few countries opposed it.
It is not difficult to see from this that the vast majority of countries in the world are on the side of justice, fairness, and conscience, and that the practice of a few countries in disregard for the security of regional countries for the sake of their own geopolitical interests is doomed to be unpopular and will only put themselves on the opposite side of the international community.
China provided $1 million in cash assistance to United Nations agencies.
All in all, although the adoption of this resolution is a welcome result, we must also be aware that the UN Security Council must not become the voice of a few countries, which will only lead to more tragedies and make the Security Council lose its original authority. It's still a gradual process.