Russia and China veto US's security council resolution urging ceasefire

A US resolution urging a ceasefire in Gaza linked to a hostage deal was vetoed by Russia and China in the UN Security Council yesterday, extending the five-month impasse in the international body over the IsraelHamas war, which has killed more than 32,000 people.

- Julian Borger & Jason Burke

Eleven council members voted for the resolution yesterday morning; Russia, China and Algeria voted against it. As permanent security council members the Russian and Chinese votes counted as vetoes.

It was unclear yesterday whether there would be a further vote on an alternative resolution by other council members demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

At the same time, in Israel, the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, shrugged off US objections and insisted Israeli forces would press ahead with a new offensive against the southernmost Gaza city of Rafah, which has been the last refuge for more than 1 million displaced Palestinians. Netanyahu said Israel "will do it alone" if necessary.

Before the vote, the Russian envoy to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, pointed out that the US had used its veto four times on Gaza since the war started on 7 October, and noted that the US resolution did not directly demanda ceasefire but rather "determines the imperative" of a ceasefire.

"To save the lives of the peaceful Palestinian civilians, this is not enough," Nebenzya said. He added any member voting for the resolution "will cover yourselves in disgrace".

After the vote, the US envoy, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Russia and China had opposed the resolution because they could not bring themselves to support the clauses in it condemning Hamas.