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The United States on Wednesday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and unrestricted humanitarian access, asserting that the measure would disrupt diplomatic efforts and embolden Hamas.
It marked the first vote on Gaza by the 15-member Council since November, when Washington — a key ally of Israel — also blocked a resolution aimed at ending the conflict.
U.S. envoy to the UN Dorothy Shea defended the veto, saying the resolution would "undermine diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire that reflects the realities on the ground and emboldens Hamas." She also argued that the draft drew "false equivalence between Israel and Hamas."
The proposed text had demanded an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties," alongside the "immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups."
It also highlighted the “catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza and would have compelled the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid deliveries.
Had it passed, the resolution would have marked a significant step in efforts to halt the ongoing violence and ease the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
The U.S. veto comes amid intensifying global criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, particularly over restrictions on aid access following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israeli territory, which triggered the current conflict.
Israel blocked humanitarian aid for more than two months, allowing limited UN access only in mid-May. However, the United Nations said those efforts have fallen far short of meeting the population’s urgent needs.
On Tuesday, 27 people were killed in southern Gaza after Israeli forces opened fire near a Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) aid distribution site. The Israeli military said the incident was under investigation. A day later, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 16 people, including 12 in a single strike on a tent sheltering displaced civilians, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency.
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