The United States on Wednesday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have called for humanitarian pauses in Gaza.
The Brazilian-drafted resolution won the support of 12 of the 15 members of the Security Council. The United States, which has veto power, was the only council member that voted against it.
Notably, both Britain and Russia chose to abstain from voting.
Before voting on the Brazilian draft, the Security Council voted separately on two amendments to the Brazilian draft submitted by Russia.
The Russian amendments — on a call for an end to indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian subjects, and a call for a durable humanitarian cease-fire, instead of humanitarian pauses contained in the Brazilian text — were unable to pass as there was not enough support by council members.
The United States was the only council member that voted against the Russian amendments.
US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in an explanation of the vote, said her country "is disappointed this (draft) resolution made no mention of Israel's right of self-defence."
Russian UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia blasted the United States for its "hypocrisy and double standards."
