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The UN is expected to vote on a cease-fire in Gaza

2024-02-18 09:41:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The United Nations Security Council is likely to vote on Tuesday, February 20, on a request by Algeria asking the council's 15 members to support an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas - the self-proclaimed Palestinian group terrorist organization from the United States and the European Union – in Gaza, diplomats said.

The US has signaled it will veto such a vote.

More than two weeks ago, Algeria presented an initial draft resolution. But the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, immediately said that the text of the resolution endangers "sensitive negotiations" aimed at achieving a pause in the fighting.

On February 17, Algeria requested that the Security Council vote on Tuesday, diplomats said. In order to approve a resolution in this institution, it is required that at least nine votes are in favor and no vetoes.

The United States, Britain, France, China and Russia have the power of veto in the Security Council.

"The US does not support the actions in this draft resolution. If it comes to a vote as drafted, it will not be approved," Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement.

The US, which supports Israel in its latest war against Hamas but has urged it to do everything it can to protect civilians in Gaza, has only vetoed the council twice since the Gaza war began on October 7. . Washington has also twice abstained, allowing the Security Council to pass resolutions aimed at increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza and calling for an urgent extension of the ceasefire.

Talks between the US, Egypt, Israel and Qatar are aimed at achieving a pause in the fighting and the release of hostages Hamas took during its October 7 attack on Israel.

"It is critical that other parties also give this process a chance to be successful instead of pushing forward measures that put it at risk," said the US ambassador to the UN.

During the October 7 attack on Israel, Hamas killed nearly 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and kidnapped nearly 250 others. Israel responded with an air and ground offensive in Gaza that has so far killed more than 28,000 people in the besieged enclave, according to the Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry.

The possibility that the UN will vote on the resolution presented by Algeria comes as Israel is planning to launch an offensive in Rafah, which is located on the border with Egypt. In this town, over 1 million Palestinians have been displaced due to fighting in other parts of Gaza, raising international concerns that such a move by Israel would worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza./ REL