The United States used its power as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to vote against and veto a draft resolution, which demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza this morning at the UN Security Council meeting.

The resolution was introduced by Guyana and the other elected members of the UN Security Council. According to Guyana’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, the draft resolution followed several meetings and negotiations with the other members of the UN Security Council.

“It was prompted by the Council’s deep concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza including what was unfolding in North Gaza and the need for an urgent response to that situation”, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett told the Security Council.

The Resolution was presented at a time where there is growing concern about rising tensions in the middle east and the impact it could have globally.

The United States made its position known ahead of the meeting, and made it clear that it would not be supporting an unconditional ceasefire that failed to address the release of hostages. The resolution did address that issue, but still did not garner the support of the US.

“The text before us recalls the UN Security Council’s primary responsibility to uphold international peace and security and demands an immediate unconditional and permanent ceasefire to be respected by all parties and reiterates the Council’s demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. This is one of the most important provisions of the text since it addresses some of the most fundamental concerns regarding the ongoing hostilities. The text also demands that the parties comply with their obligations under international law including international humanitarian law”.

This was the fifth resolution on Gaza to be voted down at the UN Security Council. Guyana was elected to the UN Security Council in January to serve a two-year term.

Guyana has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza, stressing that violence and genocide have no place in a modern society.

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