Ramallah, West Bank, December 09, 2023: Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas denounced the United States, holding it “responsible for the bloodshed” of Palestinian children in Gaza, following the U.S. veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the embattled territory.
In a statement released by Abbas’s office, the Palestinian president described the U.S. position as “aggressive and immoral,” accusing it of violating humanitarian values and principles. Abbas unequivocally blamed the United States for the casualties among Palestinian civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, due to its unwavering support for Israel.
The U.S. veto occurred during a special Security Council meeting on Friday, derailing efforts led by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and supported by Arab nations to secure a prompt humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. American envoy Robert Wood defended the veto, stating that the resolution was “divorced from reality” and would not have made progress on the ground.
Israel welcomed the U.S. veto, while the United Arab Emirates, the resolution’s sponsor, expressed deep disappointment at the outcome.
President Abbas condemned the U.S. policy, declaring it complicit in what he referred to as “crimes of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and war crimes” committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
The emergency Security Council meeting was convened by Guterres after weeks of intense conflict in Gaza, resulting in a death toll of nearly 17,500 people, predominantly women and children, according to the latest figures from the Hamas-run health ministry. The war in the territory was sparked by a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, resulting in the loss of lives and the abduction of hundreds, as reported by Israeli officials.
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