US abstention on UN Security Council resolution on Gaza
Today the United States abstained from voting on UN Security Council Resolution 2728. This abstention, which follows Russia and China’s veto of our comprehensive draft resolution in the Council, reaffirms the US position that a ceasefire of any duration is part of an agreement to release hostages in Gaza. Although we do not agree with all the provisions contained in this text, the adjustments made by the resolution’s sponsors in recent days are consistent with our fundamental position that any ceasefire text must be paired with a text releasing the hostages. This resolution also specifically recognizes the careful, ongoing negotiations being conducted by the governments of Egypt, Israel, Qatar and the United States to achieve such release within the framework of a ceasefire that will also make room for the delivery of additional life-saving humanitarian assistance would provide aid to the Palestinian civilian population and build something more permanent.
Since the final text does not contain key words that we consider essential, particularly a condemnation of Hamas, we could not support it. This failure to condemn Hamas is particularly difficult to understand in the coming days, as the world once again witnesses the horrific acts of terrorist groups.
We reiterate the need to accelerate and sustain the delivery of humanitarian assistance through all available channels – land, sea and air. We continue to discuss with partners a path to establishing a Palestinian state with real security guarantees for Israel to create long-term peace and security.
As my recent trips to the region show, we have worked very closely with our Arab partners to achieve these important results. We have also worked with Israel to ensure that October 7th can never be repeated, its security needs are met, and it is further integrated into a safer and more prosperous region. There is consensus on these priorities – a ceasefire, the release of hostages, an increase in humanitarian aid and a clear path forward. More importantly, there is a growing consensus about the steps needed to achieve these priorities. We will continue our close collaboration with our regional partners to achieve these shared goals.
