USA vetoed again this Tuesday, for the third time, a Security Council resolution on the war in Gaza that had been presented by Algeria, in which “an immediate ceasefire” was called for in the Palestinian territory.

The resolution had 13 votes in favor, one abstention from the United Kingdom and the vote against from the United Statesbut it did not go ahead as the US had the right to veto due to its status as a permanent member (along with Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom).

The US ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, justified her vote because it “jeopardizes the delicate negotiations” underway, and proceeding to vote today was “irresponsible.”

These negotiations, he specified, are being carried out by his country together with Egypt and Qatar in favor of a six week break in the fighting, “and we believe that this (Algerian) resolution could negatively impact those negotiations (…) and could lengthen the fighting between Hamas and Israel.”

The novelty at this time – the ambassador specified – is that the United States is working on another resolution of its own in which for the first time it will demand a temporary “ceasefire” from its ally Israel.when the conditions are met“, and after the release of all the hostages held by Hamas.

China, very critical of the US

Since the war in Gaza began, The United States has already vetoed three resolutions to request their end: The first was presented by Brazil on October 18, and asked Israel for “humanitarian pauses” in Gaza; On December 8, another similar resolution presented by the United Arab Emirates demanded an immediate ceasefire.

Algeria prepared the first draft resolution on January 31, and the US asked him on several occasions to postpone the vote to have time to introduce changes – even Secretary of State Antony Blinken called his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf on the phone in this regard – but none of the changes has been to Washington’s liking.

The Chinese ambassador, Zhang Junregretted that the result of this Tuesday’s vote “demonstrates that on the issue of a ceasefire in Gaza, it is clear that it is not that the Security Council does not present an overwhelming consensus (in its favor), but that The United States veto is what annuls that consensus.“.