On Wednesday, the United States used its veto in the UN Security Council to block a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. According to Washington, the proposal could have encouraged Hamas instead of pushing them towards peace talks.
The resolution called for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. It also demanded the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” However, this wording upset Israel. A senior US official stated before the vote that the resolution could “encourage Hamas,” leaving them with no reason to negotiate.
Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, described the resolution as “a betrayal.” The US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Wood, emphasized that linking a ceasefire to the release of hostages has always been the US position. He said, “This principle has guided us from the start and remains unchanged.”
The war started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli official figures. In Gaza, the health ministry reported over 43,985 deaths, most of them civilians, resulting from Israeli retaliatory strikes. The United Nations has called these figures reliable.
Out of 251 hostages taken during the October 7 attack, 97 are still held in Gaza. Among them are 34 individuals the Israeli military believes to be deceased. The war has displaced almost all of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, creating a dire humanitarian crisis.
The Security Council has faced challenges in reaching a unified stance throughout the conflict. While the US has vetoed multiple resolutions, Russia and China have also exercised their veto power. Resolutions that the US allowed to pass by abstaining avoided calling for an unconditional ceasefire.
Earlier this year, the council called for temporary ceasefires during Ramadan and proposed multi-stage plans linking hostages and ceasefires. However, these efforts did not result in action.
The most recent resolution vetoed by the US highlighted the need for “safe and unhindered humanitarian aid” and condemned attempts to starve Palestinians. Yet, the proposal did not include enforcement measures under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter.
Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour called for urgent action, warning that Gaza’s current situation would leave a lasting impact on the world. He urged the council to adopt a resolution mandating an immediate ceasefire under Chapter 7.
Diplomats have speculated that US policy might shift during President Biden’s last weeks in office following Donald Trump’s election victory on November 5. They pointed to a similar situation in December 2016 when the Obama administration allowed a resolution against Israeli settlement building to pass.
