The US has vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza

The United States has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that called for a ceasefire in Gaza, arguing it would have strengthened Hamas.

The resolution sought “an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” Despite receiving overwhelming support, with 14 out of 15 council members voting in favor, the measure failed due to the U.S. veto.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, defended the veto, stating, “This resolution was not a path to peace; it was a roadmap to more terror, suffering, and bloodshed. We thank the United States for its veto.”

Robert Wood, the U.S. deputy ambassador to the UN, reiterated Washington's stance, emphasizing that any ceasefire must be linked to the release of hostages.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, resulting in over 43,985 deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The UN has deemed these figures reliable. The war has also displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, creating a dire humanitarian crisis.

Of the 251 hostages captured during the initial Hamas attack, 97 remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead, according to the Israeli military.

Hamas condemned the U.S. veto, calling it complicit in "the aggression against our people," accusing Washington of supporting actions that "kill children and women and destroy civilian life in Gaza."

The Security Council has struggled to adopt a unified position during the conflict, with the U.S. repeatedly using its veto power, joined at times by Russia and China. A U.S. official accused Russia of “pulling strings” behind the resolution and noted China's demands for more assertive language.