UN Security Council unable to fulfill mandate on Gaza due to US’ efforts

The US is standing in the way of the UN Security Council fulfilling its mandate on the situation in the Gaza Strip, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in its statement.

"With growing concern, we have to state that the US Security Council as the main body for upholding international peace and security is still unable to fulfill its direct mandate. The reason is US opposition. Due to the Americans’ efforts, both adopted Security Council resolutions (2712 and 2720) do not contain the key demand for an immediate and complete ceasefire, and therefore they are doomed to stay only on paper," the Ministry pointed out.

Commenting on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ January 5 report on the efforts to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2712 (adopted on November 15, 2023), which set out the need to protect children amid the armed conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry underscored that the report states directly that "its implementation is far from complete, and the prospects for progress are slim to none."

"The reason for this state of affairs is stated as well: the continued Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip," the Foreign Ministry said.

"The bloodshed in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict area is at risk of escalating into a regional crisis with a growing escalation of violence in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and the Red Sea. There is a threat of mass relocation of the Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to Egypt and Jordan," the Foreign Ministry warned.