Explanation of vote by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia before UNSC vote on a draft resolution on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
Mr.President,
Colleagues,
From the very start, Russia has been calling on the Security Council to react to an unprecedented exacerbation of the current crisis. Unfortunately, for five days, there have been no progress at this track.
We stress again that we condemn what happened on 7 October, deaths of Israeli civilians, as well as deaths of civilians in Gaza.
In view of the fact that the number of those killed and injured is multiplying by the hour, we could not wait any longer watching precious time being wasted on either repetitive discussions or idleness on the part of the Council. So on Friday, 13 October, we proposed that the Council should consider our brief and purely humanitarian draft resolution. Its main element is the call to an immediate, lasting, and effective ceasefire. As you well understand, no humanitarian efforts are possible unless there is a ceasefire. Besides, our draft resolution provides for condemnation of all violence and all terrorist attacks, opening of humanitarian corridors, and safe release of all hostages.
I stress that there were almost no principled well-argued objections as regards our initiative from UNSC members. There was but one delegation to object in general terms, and that was not to the essence of the proposal.
On Saturday, 14 October, we requested the Presidency to schedule a vote of our draft resolution for 16 October and opened the document for co-sponsorship by UN member states. We thank the delegations who co-sponsored our draft resolution. It is indicative that apart from other countries, our draft resolution was co-sponsored by many states of the Arab group, and that Palestine expressed its support for the draft resolution. This is a purely humanitarian text, and we shall not have any understanding if someone decides to not support it for political or egoistic geopolitical reasons.
We call on Security Council members to support our draft resolution.
Thank you.
