PA President Mahmoud Abbas gestures during a meeting in Ramallah, in the West Bank August 18, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman/Pool

i24 News – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the United States’ on Saturday, attributing responsibility for the tragic loss of children’s lives in Gaza to the U.S. after it vetoed a UN Security Council resolution advocating for a ceasefire in the region.

In a statement from Abbas’s office, the president criticized the American stance as aggressive and in violation of humanitarian values, directly holding the U.S. accountable for the bloodshed of Palestinian civilians, including children, women, and the elderly in Gaza, due to its unwavering support for Israel.

The U.S. veto, which thwarted efforts led by UN chief Antonio Guterres and Arab nations towards an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, drew criticism.

American envoy Robert Wood dismissed the resolution as detached from reality and unlikely to effect change on the ground.

While Israel welcomed the veto, the resolution’s sponsor, the United Arab Emirates, expressed deep disappointment over the outcome.

The emergency Security Council meeting convened by Guterres followed weeks of conflict started by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel that claimed 1,200 lives, primarily civilians, with 240 taken hostage.