The foreign ministries of Russia and China sharply critiqued the U.S.-drafted resolution on Gaza, which passed a U.N. Security Council vote on Monday, arguing the measure is too vague and inconsistent with international law.
The Security Council on Monday voted in favor of a resolution in support of the U.S.-brokered Gaza peace plan, which provides a framework for stabilizing and rebuilding Gaza after nearly two years of war between Israel and Hamas. The measure passed with no votes against, with only permanent members Russia and China abstaining.
China’s foreign ministry explained its abstention early Tuesday, arguing the U.S. resolution was far too vague and raised more questions than it answered. Specifically, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the resolution fails to reflect principles such as a “two-state solution” or “Palestinians governing Palestine.”
“China will maintain a constructive and responsible approach, continue to support the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, and make relentless efforts for the full, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement.
The resolution does include language referencing an independent Palestinian state. However, it promises that only once Gaza is rebuilt and the Palestinian Authority has reformed itself can a “pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” be opened.
Russia echoed China’s explanation for its abstention on Tuesday, asserting that any plan aiming to achieve lasting peace in the region must address the two-state solution concretely. Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s representative at the U.N. Security Council, said this is particularly important as Israel loudly rejects calls for the creation of a Palestinian State.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over the weekend, restated his government’s opposition to an independent Palestinian state, despite reportedly agreeing to the wording of the U.S.-backed resolution.
Mr. Nebenzia also pointed out some of the security dangers posed by the lack of clarity in the resolution.
“Neither is there any clarity in the draft regarding the timelines for the transfer of control over Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA), nor any certainty vis-à-vis the Board of Peace and the International Stabilization Force (ISF), which, judging by the text of the resolution adopted today by the Council, will be able to act absolutely autonomously, without any regard for Ramallah’s position and opinion,” he wrote in a statement.
Mr. Nebenzia said the resolution would further separate Gaza from the West Bank and is “reminiscent of colonial practices.”
The abstentions come amid international speculation over the makeup and timeline for an International Stabilization Force. President Trump’s Gaza peace plan creates an ISF made up of European and Arab troops that would have the authority to disarm resistance groups such as Hamas in Gaza and would be tasked with keeping the peace.
It remains unclear which nations will contribute to the ISF and how long such a force would be expected to stay in Gaza.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.