China slams US for blocking Gaza ceasefire resolution at UN Security Council

China’s top UN envoy says US veto has ‘shattered the Gazan people’s hope for survival’ as war rages on in Palestinian enclave

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A Palestinian boy stands on the rubble of a house destroyed in Israel’s military offensive in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 7. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:32pm, 21 Nov 2024Updated: 5:07pm, 21 Nov 2024

China has lashed out at the US for vetoing the latest UN ceasefire effort for Gaza, accusing Washington of bringing global governance to an “all-time low”.

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday failed to adopt a draft resolution that called for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as well as the release of all hostages. It was put forward by the 10 elected members of the body: Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Despite securing 14 votes in favour, the resolution was blocked by the United States, which cast the sole veto. It was the fourth time the US – holder of a permanent seat on the 15-member Security Council – has used its veto power since Israel’s war with Hamas militants in Gaza began more than 13 months ago.

Speaking to the American delegation and representatives of other countries after the vote, Fu Cong, Beijing’s top envoy to the UN, said China was “very disappointed” with the result.

“The repeated use of veto by the United States has reduced the authority of the Security Council and international law to an all-time low,” he said.

The senior Chinese diplomat also slammed the US for having “shattered the Gazan people’s hope for survival and pushed them further into darkness and desperation”.