MOSCOW: The US veto on a UN Security Council resolution calling for a 鈥渉umanitarian pause鈥� in the Israel-Hamas war will have 鈥渕onstruous consequences,鈥� Russia said on Thursday.
Twelve out of 15 Council members voted in favor of the resolution put forward by Brazil, which also condemned the 鈥渉einous terrorist attacks by Hamas.鈥�
The United States was the only vote against, but as one of the body鈥檚 five permanent members it counted as a veto.
鈥淚n the context of a standoff that is deepening and risks spilling over the borders of the Middle East region and taking on a confessional dimension, the consequences of such a step are monstruous,鈥� Russia鈥檚 foreign ministry said in a statement.
Moscow said it was 鈥渄isappointing鈥� that a resolution that could have contributed to 鈥渟topping the escalation of tensions and reducing violence against civilians鈥� was not adopted.
The US veto 鈥渃learly demonstrates Washington鈥檚 true aspiration for the region,鈥� the statement said.
鈥淓very day of delay means not only a rapid increase in the number of dead and wounded, but also the continuation of the suffering of civilians who have become prisoners of the blockaded enclave鈥� of Gaza, it added.
The foreign ministry accused Washington of opposing 鈥渁ll humanitarian initiatives from the beginning鈥� and said the Israel-Hamas conflict reflected 鈥渢he failure of American policy鈥� in the region, which 鈥渟parked the catastrophic current escalation.鈥�
鈥淭he right to self-defense does not mean having a license for mass and indiscriminate reprisals,鈥� the ministry added, in a criticism aimed at Israel.