The United States used its veto power against a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Israel's war on the Gaza Strip, which Palestinian resistance factions considered a partnership in the war of extermination against the Strip.

The draft resolution, which was supported by 14 countries and opposed by only the United States, called for "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire to be respected by all parties" and "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages".

The draft resolution stressed the demand that the parties comply with their obligations under international law with regard to the persons they detain, and that the civilian population in the Gaza Strip be allowed immediate access to basic services and humanitarian assistance necessary for their survival.

The draft resolution, at the same time, rejected any action that would lead to the starvation of the Palestinians, and called for the full, rapid, safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and all its areas, and its delivery to all Palestinian civilians who need it, including civilians in the besieged northern Gaza Strip, who are in dire need of immediate humanitarian relief, under the coordination of the United Nations.

The draft resolution called on all parties to fully comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, in particular its provisions relating to the protection of civilians, especially women, children and persons hors de combat, as well as its provisions relating to the protection of civilian objects.

Condemnations

For its part, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) condemned the United States' use of its veto in the Security Council against the ceasefire resolution in Gaza.

Hamas said the United States "proves once again that it is a direct partner in the aggression against our people and responsible for the war of extermination."

In the same context, the Islamic Jihad Movement said that Washington's use of the veto in the Security Council "confirms that it is waging a war of extermination against our people."

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine also said that "Washington's veto in the Security Council against the resolution to stop the aggression on Gaza reveals its direct involvement in the war of extermination."

In turn, the Palestinian presidency condemned Washington's use of the veto, considering that it encourages the occupation to continue its crimes against the Palestinian people.

American and Israeli anger

In a parallel context, Robert Wood, Deputy US Ambassador Linda Greenfield, explained after the vote, “We have been very clear throughout the negotiations that we cannot support an unconditional ceasefire that does not allow for the release of the hostages,” considering that the council would have sent Hamas, through this resolution, “a dangerous message that there is no need to return to the negotiating table.”

The United States alone voted against the resolution, using its veto as a permanent member of the council to prevent its passage.

Just before the vote, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon denounced the text as "nothing but treason" and said he was counting on Washington to prevent the adoption of a resolution that would mean "abandoning" the hostages.

Since the beginning of the war, the UN Security Council has tried to come up with a unified position, but it has encountered several American vetoes, but also from Russia and China.

The few resolutions that the Americans allowed to pass through by abstention did not include a call for an unconditional and permanent ceasefire.

With American and Western support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving about 148,000 dead and wounded - most of them children and women - and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and famine that killed dozens of children and the elderly, in one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.

Israel continues its massacres, ignoring the UN Security Council resolution to end them immediately and the International Court of Justice’s orders to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.