U.S. Vetoes U.N. Resolution for Gaza Ceasefire, Marking Fifth Rejection Since October

 The resolution, backed by 14 of 15 Security Council members, was vetoed by the U.S.

                         

                     On Wednesday, the United States exercised its veto power at the United Nations Security Council to block a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. 

This marks the fifth time since October 2023 that Washington has used its veto to prevent a ceasefire proposal amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, continuing to shield Israel from calls for a halt to its military operations in the Gaza Strip.

The resolution, put forward by 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council, received strong support from 14 of the 15 members, with only the United States voting against it. 

The resolution aimed not only to secure a ceasefire but also to urge the immediate release of hostages held by Palestinian groups in Gaza. 

The call for an unconditional ceasefire, however, was at the heart of the disagreement, with Washington insisting that it would not support a resolution that did not explicitly tie the ceasefire to the release of hostages.

The resolution, which was a collective effort by countries like Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, and Switzerland, among others, reflected a growing frustration within the international community over the prolonged violence in Gaza.

 However, the U.S. vetoed the proposal, stressing that it could not support a measure that "abandoned" the necessity of securing the hostages’ release.

Robert Wood, the U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the U.N., defended the veto, stating that a “durable end to the war must come with the release of the hostages” and that the resolution would send a harmful message to Hamas, implying no need for negotiations. 

Washington maintains that Israel's military actions are vital to weakening Hamas, especially after the October 7 attack, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and captured more than 250 hostages.

The U.S. vetoed a U.N. resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel's military campaign has killed nearly 44,000 people and displaced most of the population. 

The veto, the fifth since October 2023, was condemned by U.N. members, including Malta’s Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, who criticized the U.S. for blocking a resolution focused on peace and humanitarian aid.

Humanitarian organizations, including the International Red Cross, have warned of the dire risks to civilians and called for an end to hostilities. 

Despite consistent opposition from the U.S., international calls for a ceasefire continue to grow, highlighting deep divisions within the U.N. and Washington's significant influence on the conflict's resolution.