War on Gaza: China and Russia veto US draft ceasefire motion at UN Security Council
China and Russia have vetoed a US-backed draft resolution at the UN Security Council that raised the "imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire" in Gaza.
Moscow accused Washington of a "hypocritical spectacle" that did not actually put any pressure on Israel to halt their assault on the enclave.
The draft resolution also called for the release of Israelis captured by Hamas during the 7 October attack in southern Israel.
Algeria also voted against and Guyana abstained, while the other 11 members of the council voted in favour, including permanent members France and Britain.
Russia's ambassador, Vasily Nebenzia, said that the United States was doing nothing to rein in its close ally Israel, pointing out that Gaza had already been "virtually wiped off the face of the Earth".
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"The American product is exceedingly politicised, with the sole purpose being to play to voters and throw them a bone in the form of some kind of a mention of a ceasefire in Gaza," he said.
He added that the resolution would "ensure the impunity of Israel, whose crimes are not even assessed in the draft".
In response to the veto, France said it would continue drafting its own resolution.
"Following Russia's and China's veto a few minutes ago, we are going to resume work on the basis of the French draft resolution in the Security Council and work with our American, European and Arab partners to reach an agreement," President Emmanuel Macron said at the end of a European Union leaders' summit in Brussels.
Warning to Biden
The US government, which has staunchly supported Israel since 7 October, has come under increasing domestic and international pressure to take steps over the emerging humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Earlier this week a group of more than 100 donors for the Democratic Party sent a letter to US President Joe Biden, warning him that his "unconditional support" for Israel's war on Gaza was increasing his odds of him losing the upcoming presidential election.
The letter, reported by The New York Times, said that the current military campaign in Gaza, in which Israeli forces have killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, was failing to achieve its own stated goals of eliminating the Palestinian group Hamas and freeing the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
"As donors and activists, we have committed much time and treasure in helping increase the turnout of likely Biden voters, particularly among young voters and voters of color," the letter states.
"Many of these voters are now questioning whether the Democratic Party shares their values. If they stay home or vote for a third-party candidate, there is the very real danger that President Biden will be defeated in November."
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