The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution, with 12 out of 15 members voting in favor of it.
The resolution, put forward by Brazil and negotiated over several days, called for a "humanitarian pause" in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
However, the US, as one of the Council's five permanent members, exercised its veto power due to concerns that the text did not adequately respect Israel's right to defend itself.
US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, expressed disappointment that the resolution failed to acknowledge Israel's right of self-defense.
The text of the resolution firmly condemned all violence and hostilities against civilians and acts of terrorism. It also unequivocally rejected and condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas, as well as the taking of hostages. The resolution urged all parties to fully comply with their obligations under international law.
This veto comes after the Security Council rejected a Russian resolution earlier, which did not specifically address Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7. The Russian resolution was not supported by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan, and it failed to pass.
The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant casualties and destruction, with Israel citing the need to defend itself against attacks.