UNITED NATIONS — The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Thursday demanding an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of all hostages, and the lifting of Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid, according to details received by The Chenab Times.
The draft, proposed by the council’s 10 elected members, received 14 votes in favor, with the U.S. as the sole dissenting voice, marking the sixth such veto since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, Al Jazeera reported. The resolution described Gaza’s humanitarian situation as “catastrophic,” amid confirmed famine in Gaza City and risks of wider spread without intervention, as noted by the world’s leading food crises authority.
U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus cast the veto, arguing the resolution was biased, failing to sufficiently condemn Hamas or link the ceasefire to the group’s disarmament and exit from Gaza, Reuters reported. “We would not support any measure that fails to condemn Hamas and does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza,” U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea stated, echoing concerns that it undermined diplomatic efforts.
Denmark’s UN envoy Christina Markus Lassen, speaking for the elected members, emphasized the council’s responsibility: “It sends a clear message that the Security Council is not turning its back on starving civilians, on the hostages and the demand for a ceasefire.”
Palestinian permanent observer Riyad H. Mansour reacted strongly, while Israeli officials thanked the U.S. for the veto. The move highlights U.S. isolation, with allies like the UK, France, and China voting in favor, as the war has killed over 65,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, per Gaza’s health ministry, figures the UN deems reliable.
The veto occurs amid Israel’s expanded ground offensive in Gaza City, displacing residents and intensifying aid blockades, as half of Americans now view Israel’s response as excessive, up from 40% in 2023, per an AP-NORC survey.
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