New York, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky stressed that the US has taken the UN Security Council as a 'hostage in favor of Israel' by blocking any move for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. 'The Security Council has so far failed to put an end to the escalating crisis in the Middle East, the reason is Washington's flattery and consideration of 'Israel's' interests, Sputnik quoted Polyansky as saying in a speech during a UN Security Council session on the situation in Gaza. In fact, the UN Security Council turned into a passive and powerless bystander, capable only of reporting the further degradation of the situation and ritually expressing concern about it 'he added. Moreover, 14 members of the Security Council have essentially been held hostage by the US, which is blocking any action towards to an immediate ceasefire. Polyansky criticized the Security Council's decision last June to cease fire in stages in the Gaza Strip, saying: 'The provisions of the resolution were not implemented and none of these phases, which have seemed surrealistic and unattainable, has materialized, and unfortunately with the approval of the Security Council.' The American decision at the time included a phased plan set by President Joe Biden for a three-stage ceasefire in Gaza, and 14 countries voted, while Russia abstained from voting. Source: Syrian Arab News Agency