UNITED NATIONS: During the UN Security Council meeting on Friday, the United States declared its opposition to an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Deputy US Ambassador Robert Wood expressed the US stance, stating, “While the United States strongly supports the durable peace in which both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security, we do not support calls for an immediate ceasefire.”
Wood expressed concerns that an immediate ceasefire might not lead to a lasting peace, asserting, “This would only plant the seeds for the next war.” The US is one of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council, along with China, France, Russia, and the UK.
UN Security Council Meeting on Gaza Situation
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened the emergency Security Council meeting after two months of intense Israeli bombardments that has resulted in the killing of over 17,487 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza, according to the health ministry. Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, bringing attention to a matter that, in his opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.
The Israeli air and ground assault on Gaza has led to severe humanitarian consequences, with around 80 percent of the Gaza population reportedly displaced and facing critical shortages of food, fuel, water, and medicine. Guterres has called for a “humanitarian ceasefire” to prevent a catastrophe with potentially irreversible implications for Palestinians and the broader Middle East.
The US position, opposing an immediate ceasefire, adds a layer of complexity to international efforts to address the ongoing crisis and implement immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
