AOC calls Biden administration ‘shameful’ for blocking United Nations demand for a ceasefire in Gaza and says it can no longer pretend it cares about Palestinians’ human rights
The US decision to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza was “shameful,” according to left-wing Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The Biden administration voted against the resolution on Friday, which was supported by most other members.
Supporters of the plan said the veto would deepen the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, but Israel and Washington argue that a ceasefire would simply allow Hamas to rearm and reorganize.
“Embarrassing,” was AOC's assessment of X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Together with other members of the far-left 'Squad', she has repeatedly spoken out in favor of stopping Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
“The Biden administration can no longer reconcile his professed concern for Palestinians and human rights as he single-handedly vetoes the UN's call for a ceasefire and bypasses the entire US Congress to grant unconditional to support the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza.”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez denounced the Biden administration's decision to veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. “Embarrassing,” she posted
AOC, along with its other Squad members, has continued calls for an end to the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip
Israel began bombing Gaza in the immediate aftermath of a Hamas terrorist attack that killed more than 1,200 people.
Since then, the bombardment has killed more than 17,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry.
Tens of thousands of others have been injured.
Israel has said this phase of the campaign will last for weeks as it tries to ensure Hamas can never repeat its brutal attack.
However, the United Nations and humanitarian groups have repeatedly called for a ceasefire.
The head of the UN called an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Friday as he warned of a 'humanitarian catastrophe'.
Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Hamas' attack on October 7 “can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
He added that 60 percent of homes in Gaza have reportedly been destroyed or damaged, and 85 percent of the population has been driven from their homes.
But US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood described the resolution as “unbalanced” and complained that the Security Council had not condemned the October 7 attack.
US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood raised his hand on Friday to vote against the resolution. The US, along with the other permanent members of the Security Council, has a veto
According to the Palestinian Civil Defense, a single attack killed more than 60 members of two families. This photo shows the rubble of a destroyed house used by the Al Madfaa and Shabit families in the Al Maghazi refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip
Smoke rises in the central Gaza Strip after an airstrike as Israel continues its bombing campaign
Halting Israel's offensive, he said, would only allow Hamas to continue ruling Gaza.
“Hamas does not need a lasting peace, a two-state solution,” Wood said before using his veto during the vote.
“For that reason, while the United States strongly supports a lasting peace in which both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security, we do not support calls for an immediate ceasefire.”
Britain abstained, while the thirteen other members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution.
As one of the five permanent members of the Security Council. the US has a veto.
According to the Working Families Party's “ceasefire tracker,” 61 members of Congress have supported the call for a shutdown. They include Squad members Jamaal Bowman, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, Cori Bush, Greg Casar and Summer Lee.