The United States will "undoubtedly" veto a draft resolution drafted and submitted to the United Nations Security Council by Kuwait, a non-permanent member representing the Arab world, calling for action to protect Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, U.S. Representative to the UN Nicki Haley said on Thursday.
The vote on the draft decision, which was originally scheduled to take place on Thursday, was finally postponed for today, Friday at 22:00 (Cyprus time). Hailey described the text proposed by Kuwait as a "fundamentally unilateral approach", "morally bankrupt" that "will only contribute to the undermining of ongoing peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians".
The United States has issued a draft resolution condemning Hamas for its recent violence in Gaza and calling on Hamas and Islamic Jihad to "stop all violent and provocative activities, including along the security fence." with the text consulted by the French Agency. It is unclear whether a vote will be taken on both Kuwaiti and US plans, which may not garner enough support.
Kuwait unveiled the draft resolution two weeks ago, initially calling for an international Palestinian defense force to be deployed following the deaths of about 60 Israeli soldiers by tear gas and tear gas on the Gaza Strip border with Israel. At least 122 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire since late March, the vast majority along the border wall.
No Israeli has lost his life. The final version of the Kuwaiti draft resolution calls for "measures to ensure the safety and security" of Palestinian civilians and calls on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present a report on a possible "international protection mechanism". The most serious military confrontation between the two parts after the 2014 war broke out in the Gaza Strip and the surrounding areas in the Israeli territory on Tuesday.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired dozens of rockets and fired mortars at Israel, which retaliated by striking dozens of positions of the two organizations in the Gaza Strip. "The decision calls on Israel to immediately suspend its self-defense actions," but "does not refer to Hamas' aggressive actions against security forces and civilians," Hailey said in a statement.
He clarified that "the United States will undoubtedly veto Kuwait's draft decision." If he goes from words to deeds, this will be Hailey's second veto on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In December, the United States exercised its veto power to block the ratification of a statement by the US, which was supported by all 14 other members, rejecting US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as its capital. Israel and move the American embassy to the city.
For Nicki Haley, any country that supports the resolution proposed by Kuwait "will clearly show that it is not in a position to take part in credible negotiations" on the Middle East. In order for a resolution or decision to be adopted by the Council, it must receive at least 9 votes and none of its permanent members (USA, Britain, France, Russia, China) must veto it.