U.S. Vetoes UN Resolution Falsely Accusing Israel of Aid Convoy Deaths

Latest Developments

The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on February 29 falsely blaming Israel for Palestinian deaths at a Gaza aid convoy that morning. The resolution, sponsored by Algeria, claimed the lethal incident was “due to opening fire by Israel forces.” However, U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said that “we don’t have all the facts” and that “necessary due diligence with regards to culpability” is in order.

Thousands of Palestinians rushed aid trucks admitted to the northern Gaza Strip before dawn on February 29, leading to a lethal stampede. The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry said more than 100 people died as a result of Israeli shelling and gunfire. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), however, the incident resulted in “dozens of Gazans killed or injured,” and Israeli troops only fired at Palestinians who approached them after ignoring warning shots. “We did not fire toward individuals seeking aid and we did not fire toward the humanitarian convoy,” IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. IDF aerial footage also showed that no heavy military ordnance was used.

Expert Analysis

“Like the al-Ahli Arab Hospital rocket attack, Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations are using this tragedy to disseminate propaganda and make unsubstantiated allegations against the Israeli military. This strategy is aimed at leveraging the tragic incident to increase international pressure on Israel for a permanent ceasefire, which would halt the conflict and preserve Hamas’s control of the Gaza Strip.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

“Washington was right to reject a UN Security Council resolution that parrots Hamas talking points and rushes to blame Israel before the dust settles. While we don’t yet know exactly what happened with the stampede, we do know that Hamas started a war that has brought misery to Gaza and that it steals the aid that Israel helps deliver.” — David May, FDD Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

No Limits on Gaza Aid

Despite Hamas’s repeated theft of humanitarian aid, Israel continues to increase shipments in the hope that some aid will reach needy civilians. “We want humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza. We are working around the clock to make this happen,” Hagari said on February 29. “Israel puts no limits on the amount of aid that can go into Gaza.”

Recently, several countries have started to increase the amount of aid airdropped into Gaza, a method designed to reduce the risk of goods being pillaged en route. Between February 27 and February 29, Egypt, France, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates dropped more than 35 tons of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including food and medical supplies. The United States and Canada are also considering future airdrops.

Related Analysis

“Stampede, Gunfire Near Gaza Aid Trucks,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Coordinates Airdrops of Humanitarian Aid Into Gaza, Bypassing Hamas,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Facilitates Record Aid to Gaza,” FDD Flash Brief