U.S., Russian bids on Israel-Hamas war fail at Security Council

UN fails to act on Israel-Hamas war as U.S., Russia put forward rival drafts; U.S. disappointed by Russia, China vetoes. Despite last-ditch effort by France, UNSC fails to act on Israel-Hamas war as U.S. and Russia put forward rival drafts. U.S. disappointed by Russia, China vetoes; UNGA to debate war on Oct. 26-27, Arab countries working on resolution.

The UN Security Council on October 25 failed again to take action on the Israel-Hamas war, with Russia and China vetoing a U.S.-led draft resolution and a text led by Moscow drawing insufficient support.

The rival powers went ahead and put forward texts doomed to defeat despite what diplomats said was a last-ditch effort led by France to delay a vote and work toward consensus.

The United States, Israel's historic backer which exercised its own veto last week, put forward a resolution that would support "humanitarian pauses" to let aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip and back the right of "all states" to self-defence within the confines of international law.

The U.S.-led draft did not call for a full ceasefire. Russia put forward its own proposal that sought "an immediate, durable and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire" and "condemns all violence and hostilities against civilians."

Ten countries backed the U.S. resolution but Russia and China exercised their veto power. The United Arab Emirates, whose relations with Israel have warmed markedly since normalisation in 2020 but represents the Arab bloc, also voted in opposition, with the other two countries, Brazil and Mozambique, abstaining.

"It has become clear from that the U.S. simply doesn't want UN Security Council decisions to have any kind of influence on a possible ground offensive by Israel in Gaza," said the Russian representative, Vassily Nebenzia.

"This extremely politicised document clearly has one aim -- not to save civilians but to shore up the U.S. political position in the region," he said.