Russian Foreign Ministry accuses US of unwillingness to stop bloodshed in Gaza

The United States for the sixth time used its veto power at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), opposing the possibility of stopping the "monstrous bloodshed" in the Gaza Strip. A statement on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry said on November 21.

"Washington has once again rejected the possibility of stopping the monstrous bloodshed in Gaza, the victims of which are already 44,000 dead and 104,000 wounded Palestinians, most of whom are women and children. Once again, the chance to free the hostages, among whom there are Russian citizens, has been missed," the publication says.

The US position has deprived the Russian authorities of a chance to release the hostages in the Gaza Strip, among whom there are Russian citizens, the Russian Foreign Ministry writes. It is noted that Washington's actions indicate that it is the sole cause of escalation in the Middle East and other regions of the world.

Russia will continue active efforts to achieve peace and security in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone, the Russian Ministry said.

On November 20, the United States used its veto power in the UN Security Council and blocked a new draft Middle East resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. In turn, 14 out of 15 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the document.

Prior to that, on November 18, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said at a meeting of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East that the United States and Britain were trying their best to prevent the adoption of a resolution on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. In his opinion, the vote in the Security Council will be "the moment of truth for the Anglo-Saxon tandem."

On October 25, 2023, the UN Security Council did not adopt the Russian draft Middle East resolution, which called for an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. The draft failed to garner the necessary nine votes out of 15. It was opposed by the US and the UK, and nine more abstained.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian radical movement Hamas subjected the territory of Israel to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.