UN Security Council rejects Russian resolution on Israel-Hamas

The UN Security Council on Monday rejected a Russian resolution condeming spiralling violence in the Middle East, with delegates refusing to back a motion that did not single out Hamas for its surprise attack on Israel that left at least 1,400 people dead.

Just four countries voted with Russia on its proposed  text. Four others -- including the US -- voted against, while six abstained.

A second text proposed by Brazil with unequivocal language condeming the Islamist group appeared to have broader support, and was expected to come to the vote on Tuesday evening, diplomats said.

Following the vote, Russia’s UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya described the Security Council as a "hostage to ambitions of Western countries."

"This is the only reason why it failed to send a clear and strong collective signal aimed at deescalating the situation," the diplomat said.

According to US envoy to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US voted against the proposed resolution because it failed to condemn Hamas. Nebenzya told reporters before the vote that Russian proposal didn’t mention the radical group because Moscow focused on humanitarian issues.