The United States wielded its veto power on Thursday to block a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, coupled with the release of hostages, citing its failure to condemn Hamas. The resolution, backed by all 14 other council members, decried Gaza’s “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis and urged Israel to lift aid restrictions for the territory’s 2.1 million Palestinians, escalating tensions as the nearly two-year war rages on.
Morgan Ortagus, a senior US policy adviser, defended the veto, arguing the resolution ignored Israel’s right to self-defense and legitimized “false narratives” favoring Hamas. “This was performative action designed to provoke a veto,” she said, accusing other members of disregarding US concerns about the draft’s “unacceptable” language. The move further isolates the US and Israel globally, just days before the UN General Assembly, where Gaza and Palestinian statehood—opposed by both nations—will dominate discussions.
Drafted by the council’s 10 elected members, the resolution highlighted the “deepening suffering” of Palestinian civilians, intensified by famine in Gaza City, as reported by global food crisis authorities last month. It reiterated demands for hostage releases by Hamas and other groups following their October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which ignited the conflict. The US has consistently opposed similar resolutions since November 2023, arguing they embolden Hamas by not tying ceasefires to unconditional hostage releases.
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Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour expressed profound disappointment, lamenting the dashed hopes of Palestinians awaiting relief. Algeria’s Amar Bendjama, a key resolution proponent, apologized to Palestinians for the council’s failure but praised the 14 members who “acted with conscience.” Pakistan’s ambassador called the veto, during the council’s 10,000th meeting, a “dark moment.”
Israel’s Danny Danon slammed the resolution, insisting it wouldn’t secure hostages or regional stability. “Israel will keep fighting Hamas, even if the council ignores terrorism,” he declared. Meanwhile, Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza City, launched Tuesday to “destroy Hamas’ infrastructure,” shows no signs of abating, dimming ceasefire prospects.
The veto follows a UN Human Rights Council report accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza and last week’s General Assembly vote endorsing a two-state solution, both highlighting global frustration with the conflict. A recent AP-NORC survey reveals 50% of Americans now view Israel’s military response as excessive, up from 40% in November 2023, though Republican support for prioritizing ceasefire talks has waned.
As the US stands firm with Israel, the veto underscores a growing divide with allies like the UK and France, who back Palestinian statehood, setting the stage for heated debates at the upcoming UN General Assembly.
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