US vetoes latest Security Council resolution on Gaza ceasefire

The United States has once again vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, saying the effort did not go far enough in condemning Hamas.

All 14 other members of the United Nations’ most powerful body vote in favor of the resolution, which describes the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and calls on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory.

“Colleagues, US opposition to this resolution will come as no surprise,” Morgan Ortagus, a senior US policy adviser, says before the vote. “It fails to condemn Hamas or recognize Israel’s right to defend itself, and it wrongly legitimizes the false narratives benefiting Hamas, which have sadly found currency in this council.”

She adds that other council members “ignored” US warnings about the “unacceptable” language and instead adopted “performative action designed to draw a veto.”

The resolution, drafted by the council’s 10 elected members who serve two-year terms, goes further than previous drafts to highlight what it calls the “ deepening of suffering ” of Palestinian civilians.

Algeria, one of the leaders of the resolution, expresses dismay at another failed Security Council action for Gaza, saying that it wanted to apologize to Palestinians for not doing enough to save civilians’ lives.

But Algeria’s UN ambassador, Amar Bendjama, notes that despite the failure to pass, “14 courageous members of this Security Council raised their voice. They have acted with conscience and in the cause of the international public opinion.”

The measure reiterates demands from previous resolutions, including for the release of all hostages held by Hamas-led terrorists in Gaza.