MOSCOW, March 29 The United States did not speak against the UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, so as not to lose face in front of the world majority, but the United States still extended Israel’s carte blanche for actions in Gaza, declaring the resolution non-binding, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview «Izvestia».
Earlier, the UN Security Council, for the first time since October 7, adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for the month of Ramadan, which would lead to a long-term sustainable truce. Fourteen countries voted in favor, while the United States abstained. The text of the resolution does not link the ceasefire to the release of the abducted, which is a stumbling block for Israel. The United States supports a ceasefire in Gaza, but does not agree with the resolution, said John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the White House National Security Council. He noted that the resolution is not binding.
“It’s good that this resolution was adopted. But the Americans missed it, realizing that if they vetoed this one, which was significantly weakened, but at least calling for a ceasefire, then they would generally “lose face” in relations with the world majority. But then «, having passed this resolution, the US representative to the UN stated that this resolution is not binding. That is, the “carte blanche” was extended by this “package”. The resolution is yes, but it is not binding,» Lavrov said.
He stressed that it is necessary to “urgently stop the bloodshed, resolve humanitarian issues and immediately launch the process of creating a Palestinian state.”
On October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. After this, the organization’s fighters entered the border areas in southern Israel, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took more than 200 hostages. In Israel, according to the latest data from the authorities, about 1.2 thousand people were killed, this number includes civilians, soldiers, foreign citizens and workers, and it was also reported that more than 5 thousand were injured.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, the Israeli military took control of all populated areas near the border with Gaza and began carrying out air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the strip. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel was stopped. At the end of October, the ground phase of the Israeli operation in the enclave began. Gaza City was surrounded by Israeli ground forces, and the enclave was effectively divided into southern and northern parts.
The death toll from Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip exceeded 32.5 thousand, more than 74.9 thousand people were injured, the Ministry of Health of the Palestinian enclave reported.
Hamas claimed that there were about 200-250 hostages in the Gaza Strip. After the end of the truce, Israeli authorities announced that 126 Israelis and 11 foreigners remained hostage with Hamas, and 110 abducted were released.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to stop hostilities. According to the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the settlement of the Middle East crisis is possible only on the basis of a “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, related to the territorial interests of the parties, has been a source of tension and clashes in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states — Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created.