UN Security Council resolution on Gaza vetoed

United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza because it was not linked to the release of hostages.

The resolution did not condemn Hamas’ deadly attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza – two other US demands.

The rest of the 15-nation council voted in favor of the resolution and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory.

Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea said the resolution would undermine the security of Israel. a close US ally, and diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire “that reflects the realities on the ground”, while emboldening Hamas.

A similar resolution would be brought to the UN General Assembly said Palestine’s UN Ambassador, Riyad Mansour.

While there are no vetoes in the General Assembly the resolutions are also not legally binding.

The US vetoed the last Security Council resolution on Gaza in November, under the Biden administration, also because the ceasefire demand was not directly linked to the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Similarly, the current resolution demands those taken by Hamas and other groups be released, but it does not make it a condition for a truce.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has tried to ramp up its efforts to broker peace in Gaza after 20 months of war.

However, Hamas has sought amendments to a US proposal that special envoy Steve Witkoff has called “totally unacceptable”.