China Blasts US For Giving Israel "License To Kill" After UN Veto

China has let its frustration be known after the US was the lone veto to Tuesday's UN Security Council vote urging a ceasefire in Gaza, which would have brought immense international pressure to bear on Israel to stop its offensive. 

The UN text called for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" and was proposed by Algeria for the 15-member Security Council's approval. It was seen as having widespread Arab backing. The vote was 13-1 with the UK abstaining and the US being the lone 'no' vote, which is a familiar pattern historically on Israel-related issues.

China's envoy to the UN has said the US stance is tantamount to handing Israel a "license to kill" as it's "nothing different from giving the green light to the continued slaughter," according to the words of Chinese Ambassador to teh UN Zhang Jun.

According to more from the full statement published in Chinese state media:

The U.S. claim that a resolution would interfere with the ongoing diplomatic efforts is totally untenable. Given the situation on the ground, the continued passive avoidance of an immediate cease-fire is nothing different from giving the green light to the continued slaughter, he said.

While the draft resolution has been vetoed, the spillover of the conflict is destabilizing the entire Middle East region, leading to rising risks of a wider war. Only by extinguishing the flames of war in Gaza can the world prevent the fires of hell from engulfing the entire region. The Security Council must act quickly to stop this carnage, said Zhang.