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Despite growing international calls for immediate action, the United States has once again signaled its intention to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza. Diplomatic tensions mount as Algeria pushes for the resolution.
The UN Security Council could hold a vote next week, sought by Algeria, on a resolution seeking an "immediate" ceasefire in Gaza, diplomatic sources told AFP on Saturday, although Washington appeared set to block it again.
Algeria launched discussions on a new draft after the International Court of Justice ruled in late January that Israel must do all it can to prevent genocidal acts in its war in Gaza, which it says is targeting Hamas militants.
The latest version of the text, seen by AFP on Saturday, "demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties."
It also "rejects forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population," and it "demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages."
Algeria requested a UN Security Council vote on Tuesday, but Washington signaled that it is likely to veto the measure.
US President Joe Biden is working with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar on a hostage deal that would bring about six weeks of a "prolonged pause in fighting," US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement on Algeria's proposed draft.
"The resolution put forward in the Security Council, in contrast, would not achieve these outcomes, and indeed, may run counter to them," Thomas-Greenfield said.
"The United States does not support action on this draft resolution," she added. "Should it come up for a vote as drafted, it will not be adopted."
Like previous texts opposed by Israel and the United States, the new text does not condemn the October 7 attack.
Earlier this month, Thomas-Greenfield said that Algeria's latest initiative risked derailing the negotiations.
"We believe that it is high time now for the Security Council to decide on a humanitarian ceasefire resolution," Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour said recently, adding that there is "massive support" for the text's elements among council members.
With AFP
The UN Security Council could hold a vote next week, sought by Algeria, on a resolution seeking an "immediate" ceasefire in Gaza, diplomatic sources told AFP on Saturday, although Washington appeared set to block it again.
Algeria launched discussions on a new draft after the International Court of Justice ruled in late January that Israel must do all it can to prevent genocidal acts in its war in Gaza, which it says is targeting Hamas militants.
The latest version of the text, seen by AFP on Saturday, "demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties."
It also "rejects forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population," and it "demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages."
Algeria requested a UN Security Council vote on Tuesday, but Washington signaled that it is likely to veto the measure.
US President Joe Biden is working with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar on a hostage deal that would bring about six weeks of a "prolonged pause in fighting," US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement on Algeria's proposed draft.
"The resolution put forward in the Security Council, in contrast, would not achieve these outcomes, and indeed, may run counter to them," Thomas-Greenfield said.
"The United States does not support action on this draft resolution," she added. "Should it come up for a vote as drafted, it will not be adopted."
Like previous texts opposed by Israel and the United States, the new text does not condemn the October 7 attack.
Earlier this month, Thomas-Greenfield said that Algeria's latest initiative risked derailing the negotiations.
"We believe that it is high time now for the Security Council to decide on a humanitarian ceasefire resolution," Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour said recently, adding that there is "massive support" for the text's elements among council members.
With AFP
This Is Beirut
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