Somalia Slams U.S. Veto As UN Gaza Ceasefire Bid Fails

GOOBJOOG NEWS | NEW YORK: Somalia has condemned the United Nations Security Council’s failure to adopt a resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, after the measure won overwhelming support but was blocked by a U.S. veto.

At the Council’s 10,000th session, Somalia’s Ambassador to the UN, Abukar Dahir Osman, said the international community had suffered a “profound moral failing” by allowing the conflict to continue.

The draft resolution, co-sponsored by Somalia and backed by all 10 elected members of the Council, including Algeria and Slovenia, called for an unconditional ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access and the release of hostages. Fourteen of the 15 members voted in favour, but the United States vetoed the text, saying it did not sufficiently condemn Hamas or affirm Israel’s right to self-defence.

“Millions of Palestinians have paid the price of our failure to stop the killing machine launched against them,” Osman told the Council, accusing it of repeated inaction in the face of mass civilian suffering.

Somalia has long expressed support for the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Its backing of the resolution followed a non-binding General Assembly vote last week in which 142 countries supported the so-called New York Declaration endorsing a two-state solution.

Denmark, speaking on behalf of the elected members, said the vote still carried weight despite the veto. “Fourteen members of this Council have sent a clear message,” its envoy said.

The outcome again underscored divisions in the Security Council, where any of the five permanent members – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – can block action regardless of majority support.