New York, United States - November 20, 2024 A Chinese envoy on Wednesday slammed the United States for vetoing a UN Security Council draft resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, saying the move has shattered the Gazan people's hope for survival and pushed them further into darkness and desperation. The draft, put forward by the Council's 10 non-permanent members, demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The 15-member Council voted 14-1 in favor of the resolution, but the United States used its veto as a permanent member of the Council to block it. Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said China is very disappointed with the result of Wednesday's vote. Guyana, Algeria, and other E10 members (elected non-permanent members of the Security Council) demonstrated maximum sincerity and constructiveness during the consultation on the draft resolution, he said. Fu said Israel has flagrantly breached every red line of international humanitarian law, with its actions causing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. But even as a famine is about to break out in Gaza, the United States always seems to be able to find justification to defend Israel, which represents a distortion and selective disregard of the application of international humanitarian law, the ambassador said. People never knew before how low one could stoop in terms of double standard. No wonder people feel angry. Their indignation also stems from the fact that the continued supply of weapons from the U.S. has become a decisive factor for the war lasting so long, causing so many casualties and so much destruction, he said. China called on the U.S. to take its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Council seriously, stop being passive and evasive, and stop the deliberate procrastination. Instead, it should act with a sense of responsibility to history, and support the Council in taking all necessary actions to achieve an immediate ceasefire, save lives, and restore peace, the envoy said. The United States has repeatedly obstructed the Security Council from passing draft resolutions on a ceasefire in Gaza since a new round of Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on October 7, 2023, which has killed nearly 44,000 Palestinians over the past 13 months. Shotlist: UN Headquarters, New York City - Nov 20, 2024: 1. Representatives raising hands to vote in favor of UN Security Council draft resolution on Gaza ceasefire; 2. Ambassador Barbara Woodward, permanent representative of United Kingdom to United Nations and president of Security Council for November 2024, speaking; 3. Robert Wood, deputy permanent representative of United States to United Nations, raising hand to veto; 4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to United Nations: "In the future, when looking back, people will find it hard to understand this part of history. The Security Council is mandated under the UN charter to shoulder the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It is incomprehensible that for the past year or so, the United States has been so insistent in rendering the Council incapable of playing its role, leading to its paralysis. The U.S. has claimed to be conducting parallel diplomatic efforts and has repeatedly promised that progress would be made soon in the negotiations. It is incomprehensible that to date, the so-called diplomatic negotiations have been going in circles. Why is Israel allowed to continue its military operations while constantly putting forth new conditions for negotiations?"; Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip - Oct 29, 2024 5. Various of rescuers searching for survivors in rubble after Israeli airstrike; Gaza Strip - Recent 6. Ambulance on street; 7. Health workers admitting injured victims to hospital with stretcher; UN Headquarters, New York City - Nov 20, 2024 8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to United Nations: "Facts have shown that Israel's military operations in Gaza have long exceeded the scope of rescuing hostages. Insistence on setting preconditions for a ceasefire is tantamount to giving the green light to prolong the war and condone the continued killing. The repeated use of veto by the United States has reduced the authority of the Security Council and international law to an all-time low."; FILE: UN Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown 9. UN headquarters, flags; 10. Various of UN flag, emblem. [Restriction - For news purpose only/No archive/Not for other production use, No access Chinese mainland]