Russia: Russian ambassador to the United Nations has called for a “humanitarian ceasefire” in the Israel Gaza war.
The Russian draft resolution, presented to the UN Security Council, called for an “immediate” ceasefire and the secure release of all hostages. The resolution “strongly condemned all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism” as well as blamed the United States for the continuing war.
The draft resolution further urged humanitarian aid access and the safe evacuation of civilians. According to reports, the draft was given to the 15-member council during a closed-door meeting on the conflict.
“We’re convinced that the Security Council must act to put an end to the bloodshed and restart peace negotiations with a view to establishing a Palestinian state as it was supposed to do so long ago,” Russian ambassador Mr. Vassily Nebenzia said after the closed-door meeting of the Security Council.
Mr. Nebenzia noted that there were positive responses to the draft resolution among some member states.
The Russian Ambassador also criticised the US for bearing “responsibility for the looming war in the Middle East,” as well as European Commission head Ms. Ursula von der Leyen for “turning a blind eye to the Israeli air force attacks on civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip”.
The draft resolution comes after countries urged Israel to end war in northern Gaza, where it had ordered more than a million civilians to evacuate, which the UN had called “impossible.”
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