April 8, 2024
Thank you, Mr. President. On March 22nd, the United States put forward a resolution in good faith, after consulting all Council Members and accommodating significant edits. The vast majority of the Council voted “yes.” Unfortunately, Russia and China decided to exercise their vetoes.
Russia and China offered many over-the-top explanations for their obstruction. Rather than support diplomacy to release the hostages and secure a ceasefire, they attacked the United States.
We just heard more of the same today. But here’s the truth: while Russia and China attack and distract, the United States is at the table – working toward an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages. We’ve rolled up our sleeves and remain engaged in on-the-ground diplomacy.
And as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, we are doing everything possible to surge aid, to push for humanitarian access, including additional land routes, and for the protection of humanitarian workers.
For their part, Russia and China are engaged in no meaningful diplomacy and only offering lectures, something they are in no position to do. Worse, they continue to shield Hamas, the party that set this horrific crisis in motion.
Let’s be clear: in vetoing this resolution, Russia and China stopped this Council from condemning Hamas for burning people alive, for gunning down civilians at a concert, for raping women and girls, for taking hundreds of people hostage, including children.
That is outrageous, and it’s below the dignity of this body.
Colleagues, Russia and China also vetoed because they did not want to vote for a resolution penned by the United States. Even after inclusive consultations over weeks and weeks.
They claim we don’t support a ceasefire. That is not true. We made that clear when just days after Russia and China vetoed our resolution which called for an extended ceasefire, the Council adopted Resolution 2728 – which called for a shorter ceasefire.
As President Biden emphasized in a call with Prime Minister Netanyahu just last week quote, “an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians.” There is no doubt: the United States supports a ceasefire.
And we know that the way to achieve that is through negotiations to reach an agreement in which hostages are released. Such negotiations are ongoing, with the help of Egypt and Qatar.
Colleagues, there are other critical items that the U.S. drafted resolution set out to do. You won’t hear about them from Russia or China, so let me detail some of them here.
The U.S. resolution that they vetoed strengthened the mandate of Senior Coordinator Kaag and bolstered her efforts to secure the opening of additional ports and crossings for aid. Because when famine is on the horizon, we need to do everything possible to support the UN.
The U.S. resolution called for immediate, concrete measures to fix the deconfliction processes — because this conflict has been one of the worst in recent history in terms of how many aid workers have been killed.
The U.S. resolution underscored support for the Palestinian Authority to govern not only the West Bank but also Gaza. And I’m pleased to say we are seeing progress toward that goal with the announcement of a new Palestinian Authority Cabinet last week.
The U.S. resolution also emphasized that there must be no change in the territory of Gaza and denounced incitement to violence and violent extremist rhetoric that is a barrier to efforts to advance a two-state solution.
When justifying its veto, Russia labeled these “political” measures. We believe they are essential building blocks for a more peaceful future. We have a responsibility to begin laying the foundation for that future now.
The United States rejects Russia and China’s decision to play petty politics. We will continue efforts to advance peace in the region. We will remain at the negotiating table to enable the release of hostages and a ceasefire.
We will continue to provide massive support to the humanitarian effort, at a time when starvation has set in, and millions of people are in dire need of assistance.
We will continue to press Israel to take “specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.”
And we will continue to press for implementation of all Council resolutions.
We will do all of this because that is what it will take to end this conflict. That is what it will take to address the dire humanitarian situation.
Undermining those efforts, as Russia and China’s veto attempted to do, only serves to prolong the situation. Thank you.