An Arab-backed UN resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war was vetoed by the United States earlier today. The Security Council vote was 13-1, with 13 of the 15 member nations supporting the resolution, the U.K. abstaining from the vote, and the U.S. voting against the resolution.
In a statement posted on X, The State of Palestine wrote, “Between our last Council session on the 31st of January and today, the casualty toll has risen from 26,000 Palestinians killed by the Israeli occupying forces to now almost 30,000 people killed and more than 69,000 people injured.”
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that the resolution would interfere with ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Although the United States is rejecting the Arab-backed ceasefire proposal, it is supportive of a temporary ceasefire, offering a similar resolution. Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S.-backed resolution “would do what this text does not — pressure Hamas to take the hostage deal that is on the table and help secure a pause that allows humanitarian assistance to reach Palestinian civilians in desperate need.”
The UN announced the Security Council failing to adopt the resolution, stating on X, “Security Council members fail to adopt resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Middle East. Amid intense fighting, the UN and partners say people in Gaza face starvation, disease & death as humanitarian situation nears total collapse.”
