US Vetoes UN Gaza Ceasefire Resolution Amid International Condemnation
US Vetoes UN Gaza Ceasefire Resolution Amid International Condemnation
The United States recently exercised its veto power in the UN Security Council, blocking a resolution that demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. This marks the fifth U.S. veto since the conflict began, drawing widespread criticism from other council members and international observers.
The resolution, which garnered support from all 14 other Security Council members, described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and urged Israel to lift all restrictions on aid delivery to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory. However, the U.S. stated its opposition stemmed from the resolution’s failure to explicitly link the ceasefire demand to the release of hostages held by Hamas, and its omission of a condemnation of Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023, attack.
Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea argued that the resolution would undermine Israel’s security and ongoing diplomatic efforts for a realistic ceasefire. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this sentiment, asserting that the resolution would empower Hamas, which he believes could end the conflict by releasing hostages and disarming. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon thanked the U.S. for its stance, claiming the resolution would have unfairly pressured Israel and given Hamas undue leverage.
Conversely, the veto was met with strong condemnation. China’s ambassador accused Israel of crossing “every red line” of international humanitarian law, with the U.S. providing “shielding.” Britain, typically a U.S. ally, criticized Israel’s expanded military operations and aid restrictions as “unjustifiable, disproportionate and counterproductive.” Pakistan’s ambassador labeled the veto a “complicity” and a “green light for continued annihilation.” Slovenia’s ambassador emphasized the resolution’s humanitarian focus, stressing that “starving civilians and inflicting immense suffering is inhumane and against international law.”
Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour announced plans to take a similar humanitarian resolution to the 193-member General Assembly, where no country holds veto power, though such resolutions are not legally binding. This latest veto comes as the Trump administration continues efforts to broker peace in Gaza, despite Hamas seeking amendments to a U.S. proposal deemed “totally unacceptable.”
The conflict, ignited by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted 251, has seen Israel’s military campaign kill over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Only 58 hostages are believed to remain, with a third thought to be alive. Efforts to deliver aid remain contentious, with a recent decision by an Israeli and U.S.-backed foundation to pause food delivery after accusations of Hamas stealing aid, a claim the UN disputes, asserting its distribution system is effective and monitored.
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