THOUSANDS of Palestine supporters will gather across Britain this weekend against world leaders’ continued failure to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Russia, China and Algeria vetoed a US-sponsored resolution at the UN today which said that “an immediate and sustained ceasefire” in Gaza is “imperative” to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to stave off widespread famine.

They did so because the resolution did not actually call for a ceasefire.

Guyana abstained in the vote, with just 11 of the 15 security council members accepting it.

Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said that while Moscow supports an immediate ceasefire, he questioned the resolution’s language. He accused US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of “misleading the international community” for “politicised” reasons.

“This was some kind of an empty rhetorical exercise,” Mr Nebenzia said.

“The American product is exceedingly politicised, the sole purpose of which is to help to play to the voters, to throw them a bone in the form of some kind of a mention of a ceasefire in Gaza … and to ensure the impunity of Israel, whose crimes in the draft are not even assessed.”

The US, which is Israel’s closest ally, has previously vetoed three resolutions demanding a ceasefire, most recently one supported by 13 security council members. Only Britain, which abstained, joined the US in failing to support it.

British representative to the council, Dame Barbara Woodward, said she is “deeply disappointed” at the vote and that Britain would continue to do “everything we can” to get aid to Gaza’s two million residents.

Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German told the Morning Star: “The US resolution was a sign of how desperate Biden is getting in the face of deliberate genocide in Gaza by Israel.

“But it was still on Israel’s terms. We need a full permanent ceasefire without conditions.

“We also need to stop arming Israel to prevent it killing Palestinians, whether through bullets, bombs or man-made famine.

“[Prime Minister Rishi] Sunak and [Labour leader Sir Keir] Starmer must treat Israel as the pariah it is — our government’s position is a complete disgrace and will not be forgotten by those who want justice for Palestine.”

Local protests will take place across Britain tomorrow and tomorrow against Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 31,000 people and caused acute shortages of food, water and medicine.

Calling the public to the protest, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said: “We must keep taking action to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire, an end to the genocide, and for the government to end its complicity in Israel’s attacks including by ending the arms trade with Israel.”

A list of actions can be found on the PSC website.

Ms Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia and China of voting for “deeply cynical reasons,” saying they could not bring themselves to condemn Hamas’s attacks in southern Israel on October 7.

Despite the wording, the resolution did reflect a shift in the US stance on a ceasefire. Washington has found itself at odds with most of the world and even close allies who are pushing for an unconditional end to the onslaught.

Ten elected members of the security council have put their own ceasefire resolution in a final form to be voted on, which is expected to take place tomorrow.

That resolution also demands “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” and emphasises the urgent need to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip.

Mr Nebenzia urged council members to support it, but Ms Thomas-Greenfield said the text’s current form “fails to support sensitive diplomacy in the region.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has also said his country will work on a new resolution.

Israel faces mounting pressure to allow aid into the Gaza Strip and open more land crossings.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to move the military offensive to the southern city of Rafah, where 1.3 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety.

Mr Netanyahu claims it is a Hamas stronghold — a statement made by Israel about each region and site targeted, including hospitals and refugee shelters.

Mr Blinken met Israeli leaders in Tel Aviv today, where he said he would share alternatives to Israel’s planned ground assault.

Following the meeting, Mr Netanyahu said Israel would “do it alone” if necessary.

Mr Blinken said “candid” conversations were held and that “we have the same goals.”

More than a million Palestinians have sought refuge in Rafah after Israeli attacks pushed them southwards.

About 70 per cent of northern Gaza is experiencing catastrophic hunger with “famine imminent,” according to the international community’s authority on determining hunger crises.

The report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative warned that escalation of the war could push half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation.

But children are already dying from starvation, with the World Health Organisation warning that 60 per cent of those under five are now malnourished.