UNGA Meets over Gaza Veto by US in Security Council

Member States gathered on Tuesday to discuss the use of the veto by the United States in the Security Council last month.

During the meeting, Vice President Cheikh Niang of Senegal read out a statement on behalf of UNGA President Dennis Francis, who was unable to attend. The Emergency Special Session discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

President Francis praised the adoption of Security Council resolution 2720, which called for safe, unhindered and expanded humanitarian access and conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities. He urged all parties in Gaza to fully implement the Council resolution, as well as the Assembly resolution of 12 December calling for a ceasefire.

President Francis also called upon all Member States to prioritize the protection of civilians during the ongoing conflict.

UNGA has recently passed a resolution aimed at promoting greater cooperation between itself and the Security Council, in light of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.

The resolution stipulates that whenever the veto power is exercised in the Security Council, it triggers an automatic meeting and debate in the General Assembly to scrutinize and discuss the decision.

The veto power is a special voting privilege held by the five permanent member states of the Council, namely China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US. If any one of these countries casts a negative vote, the resolution or decision will automatically fail.