UK abstained on UN’s Gaza vote because resolution did not condemn Hamas, says envoy

The UK’s representative to the UN, Barbara Woodward, says Britain abstained tonight on a Security Council vote calling for an immediate ceasefire because the resolution presented to members were did not condemn Palestinian terror group Hamas and its atrocities on October 7 when thousands of terrorists attacked Israel, killed 1,200 people, a majority civilians, and took some 240 hostages.

“Calling for a ceasefire ignores the fact that Hamas has committed acts of terror and is still holding civilians hostage,” she said in remarks cited by Sky news.

“We cannot vote in favor of a resolution which does not condemn the atrocities Hamas committed against innocent Israeli civilians” on October 7, she added.

Woodward said the UK was “gravely concerned” about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for “further and longer” humanitarian pauses in the fighting to deliver aid and free more hostages.