Reuters reported that Russia and China vetoed the UN resolution proposed by US for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Given that their apparent stance was pro-ceasefire recently (just like the demands of people being pro-Palestine), why have Russia and China now vetoed this ceasefire resolution?
The resolution did not explicitly call for a ceasefire.
Its phrasing was as follows:
Determines the imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides, allow for the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance, and alleviate humanitarian suffering, and towards that end unequivocally supports ongoing international diplomatic efforts to secure such a ceasefire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages;
If you analyze this sentence in legal terms, the first part of it is a perfunctory clause. The action clause instead supports diplomatic efforts to trade a ceasefire for the release of hostages.
This language effectively reinforces Israel's position of linking ceasefire and hostage release demands, with no obligation on either side to actually agree to such a deal, only to keep talking, which they already are.
Apparently, Russia and China want an unequivocal resolution that doesn't lead to a second round of debates on whether to call for a ceasefire, for what duration, on what terms, and to what extent.
Russia's ambassador said the U.S.-led resolution was "exceedingly politicized" and contained an effective green light for Israel to mount a military operation in Rafah
This has happened before, with non-US resolutions generally calling for an immediate ceasefire and getting vetoed by the US, and vice versa, US resolutions getting vetoed by others.
France is also drafting its own version. But unless the US decides in favor of an unconditional ceasefire, or China and Russia a conditional one, any passable resolution at this point would have to sidestep the matter, addressing aid and other issues. There are lengthy negotiations in their preparation.
The previous draft resolutions' full text is as follows:
From these previous drafts, one can see that many perfunctory clauses, broadly reiterating the UN's values, are typical of UN resolutions. Only a some clauses, normally beginning with "Calls" or "Demands", are worded as guidance for action.
Edit: A new resolution has been passed on March 25. Russia and China supported it and the US abstained.
This resolution demands Israel to cease its offensive for a month and Hamas to release the hostages. This is how UN resolutions are normally worded: "A should do X and B should do Y", rather than as a call for negotiations.
The ceasefire proposal was conditional and required Hamas to release the hostages first. Sides that voted against demand the ceasefire not to be conditional. As The Russian deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said (The Guardian):
the demand for an immediate ceasefire should not be conditional on the release of hostages or the condemnation of Hamas.
China said the language was "ambiguous".
China’s representative, Zhang Jun, said the draft “dodged the most central issue, that of a ceasefire” through its “ambiguous” language.
“Nor does it even provide an answer to the question of realising a ceasefire in the short term,” he added.
Xinhua quoted a bit more from their ambassador. An additional stated concern was that the US draft resolution didn't condemn the planned/announced Israeli operation in Rafah.
The ambassador pointed out that the U.S. draft was "unbalanced in many aspects," especially concerning Israel's recent repeated declarations of planning military attacks on Rafah.
"The draft did not clearly oppose such actions, sending a very wrong signal with serious consequences," the ambassador added.
Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Gaza proposed by the United States – with Russia’s envoy calling it “an effective green light for Israel to mount a military operation in Rafah.
It seems that Russia believes that the resolution was worded in a way to give an effective green light for Israel to mount a military operation in Rafah. If the Russians believe this, then it wouldn't be surprising that China also believe that this is the case.
