Washington Uses Veto Against UN Ceasefire Resolution on Gaza

The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip. The draft resolution, backed by 14 countries and opposed solely by the United States, demanded “an immediate, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire to be respected by all parties” and “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

The resolution reiterated the need for all parties to comply with their obligations under international law, especially concerning detainees and the immediate provision of essential services and humanitarian aid necessary for the survival of Gaza’s civilian population.

The resolution also rejected any actions leading to the starvation of Palestinians. It called for the full, swift, safe, and unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to all areas of Gaza, ensuring it reaches all Palestinian civilians in need, including those in the besieged northern Gaza, who are in desperate need of immediate relief, under UN coordination.

Furthermore, the resolution urged all parties to completely comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, particularly its provisions on protecting civilians—especially women, children, and those unable to fight—as well as civilian infrastructure.

The United States, as a permanent member of the Council, was the sole country to vote against the resolution, employing its veto power to block its adoption.

The U.S. has previously used its veto power on several occasions to block resolutions calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

Since October 7, 2023, with U.S. and Western support, Israel has committed acts described as genocide in Gaza, resulting in approximately 148,000 casualties—most of them children and women—including over 10,000 missing individuals, amid massive destruction and famine that has killed dozens of children and elderly people. This has been one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.