UN Security Council Fails to Pass US Resolution Calling for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

Russia and China on Friday, March 22, vetoed a U.S.-sponsored U.N. resolution calling for “an immediate and sustained ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than 2 million hungry Palestinians.

The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 11 members in favor, three against and one abstention. Before the vote, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow supports an immediate ceasefire, but he questioned the language in the resolution and accused U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of “misleading the international community” for “politicized” reasons.

The resolution declared that a ceasefire is “imperative.” The draft that was put to a vote made no direct link to the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which was in the previous draft. But it unequivocally supported diplomatic efforts “to secure such a ceasefire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”

The Security Council had already adopted two resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, but none calling for a ceasefire. A day earlier, the U.S. circulated a rival resolution, which went through major changes during negotiations before Friday’s vote.

It initially would have supported a temporary ceasefire linked to the release of all hostages, and the previous draft would have supported international efforts for a ceasefire as part of a hostage deal. (NYP / VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we pray that You take care of our hostages and protect them from any harm. We pray that they will be returned to us quickly, either as part of a negotiation deal or by the efforts of our defense forces. We ask that You would weaken Hamas and dismantle them so they won’t be able to wreak more havoc on their own people and on Israel.”