US vetoes Brazil's UN Security Council draft resolution for humanitarian pauses in Gaza
American leaders on ground doing hard work of diplomacy, says Washington's envoy
WASHINGTON
The US vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution Wednesday put forward by Brazil that demands humanitarian pauses in Gaza.
The resolution received 12 votes in favor, one against and two abstentions from Russia and the UK.
"The draft resolution has not been adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Council," Brazil's UN envoy Sergio Franca Danese said after the vote.
"Our proposed text unequivocally condemned all forms of violence against civilians, including the heinous acts of terrorism by Hamas, and the taking of hostages. It called for their immediate and unconditional release," said Danese.
Russia's UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the US of hypocrisy and not standing in principle in the Security Council.
"They really did not want to have any solution here," said Nebenzia.
American envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield said US leaders are on the ground doing the hard work of diplomacy.
"While we recognize Brazil's desire to move this text forward, we believe we need to let that diplomacy play out," she said, noting talks between UN chief Antonio Guterres, President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.