Les États-Unis mettent leur veto à une résolution du Conseil de sécurité appelant à un cessez-le-feu humanitaire à Gaza

Les États-Unis ont opposé leur veto ce vendredi à une résolution du Conseil de sécurité appelant à un “cessez-le-feu humanitaire immédiat” à Gaza, malgré la pression du secrétaire général de l’ONU, Antonio Guterres, qui avait critiqué avant ce vote la “punition collective” infligée aux Palestiniens. Le projet de résolution a recueilli 13 voix en faveur – dont celle d’alliés comme la France et le Japon – une contre, les États-Unis, et une abstention, le Royaume-Uni. Elle avait été préparée par les Émirats arabes unis après l’invocation sans précédent par Antonio Guterres mercredi de l’article 99 de la Charte des Nations unies, permettant au secrétaire général d’attirer l’attention du Conseil sur un dossier qui “pourrait mettre en danger le maintien de la paix et de la sécurité internationales”. Mis en cause pour son agression de l’Ukraine, la Russie a souligné l’isolement américain. But the Americans, allies of Israel, repeated Friday their hostility to a ceasefire. “We do not support calls for an immediate ceasefire,” insisted US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood. “This would only sow the seeds of future war, because Hamas has no desire for lasting peace,” he added, also lamenting the lack of condemnation of Hamas’ attacks on October 7th, a “moral failure.” John Kirby, head of strategic communications for the National Security Council, uttered a single word in response to the resolution presented in New York, “no”: No, the United States has not changed its position and no to the ceasefire proposed by the United Arab Emirates, according to our correspondent in Washington, Guillaume Naudin. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan welcomed the American veto. He estimated that “the real path to peace is only to support Israel’s mission, absolutely not a call for a ceasefire.” The resolution, highlighting the “catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip”, demanded “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire”. The very short text also called for the protection of civilians, the “immediate and unconditional” release of all hostages, and “ensuring humanitarian access”. Putting pressure on Council members, Antonio Guterres justified the invocation of Article 99 on Friday morning by again emphasizing the risk of “total collapse of public order” in the Gaza Strip. “I unconditionally condemn” the Hamas attacks on October 7th, but “the violence perpetrated by Hamas cannot in any way justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” he said. The Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, had estimated: “The time for courage has come..You must act now”. And in Washington, foreign ministers from several Arab countries and Turkey had called for an “immediate” end to the war. It is the third time the United States has used its veto power since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas more than two months ago. The reasons given: the haste with which the text was presented, the lack of condemnation of Hamas, and Israel’s right to defend itself against a terrorist attack. For the United States, a ceasefire now would allow Hamas to reorganize and resume its attacks on the Jewish state. Under pressure from the left wing and the youth of his party, President Joe Biden has emphasized his efforts to obtain humanitarian pauses and ask Israel for better treatment of civilians. But not to the extent of changing the country’s traditional position, which has historically been widely supported by American voters. That of unwavering support for Israel. (With AFP)