The United States vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as well as for unhindered access to humanitarian aid in the enclave, reports The Guardian. The other 14 members of the Council, including the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, supported the document.
The resolution was proposed by ten non-permanent members of the Security Council: Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.
The rejected resolution also described the situation in Gaza as "catastrophic" and included a demand for the "immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the import of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its safe and unhindered distribution on a large scale, including by the UN and humanitarian partners."
Acting US ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea stated that the US will not support measures that do not condemn Hamas and do not require its disarmament and withdrawal from Gaza, and also emphasized that the resolution could undermine US efforts to achieve a sustainable truce.
Although the resolution included a call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, the US expressed concern that the ceasefire demands were not directly linked to the release of hostages.
Israel welcomed the US veto. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar thanked the US administration for its support, stating that the proposed resolution strengthens Hamas and undermines efforts to free the hostages.
This was the fifth time the US has vetoed a Security Council draft resolution on a ceasefire.
A similar resolution is expected to be put to a vote in the UN General Assembly, where no country has veto power. Although such resolutions are not legally binding, they reflect the opinion of the international community.
Photo: Anadolu