US vetoes UN ceasefire resolution for Gaza, linking hostage release to peace efforts

The United States has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an "immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza, citing concerns that such a measure would strengthen Hamas without addressing the release of hostages.

US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, emphasized that the resolution failed to align with Washington’s principal position of linking any ceasefire to the release of hostages. "We made clear throughout negotiations we could not support an unconditional ceasefire that failed to release the hostages," Wood stated.

The resolution also demanded the safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and condemned efforts to deprive the region's population of essential supplies.

Ahead of the vote, a senior US official warned that an unconditional ceasefire could embolden Hamas, giving the group little incentive to negotiate. This perspective was echoed by Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, who called the resolution a "betrayal."

The conflict, which erupted on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led assault on Israel, has led to catastrophic consequences. According to official figures, 1,206 people in Israel, primarily civilians, lost their lives in the attack. In Gaza, the health ministry reported a death toll of over 43,985, mostly civilians, amid relentless Israeli airstrikes.

The ongoing war has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, exacerbating a severe humanitarian crisis. The UN has deemed the casualty figures reliable, highlighting the devastating toll on civilians.

The Security Council has faced persistent challenges in reaching consensus on the conflict, with the US, Russia, and China frequently exercising their veto powers. While the US has allowed some resolutions to pass by abstaining, these have stopped short of demanding an unconditional ceasefire.

The recently vetoed resolution also lacked provisions under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which could enforce actions like sanctions. Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour warned that Gaza’s suffering would leave an enduring scar on global consciousness, urging the Security Council to take decisive action.

Some diplomats expressed hope for flexibility in the final weeks of President Joe Biden’s administration, drawing parallels to the Obama administration’s 2016 abstention on a resolution opposing Israeli settlement expansion. However, the US position remains firmly tied to the hostage crisis.