The US insisted that any ceasefire must be tied to the release of hostages. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood defended the veto, saying the resolution failed to address the need for such a linkage.
Israel welcomed the veto, with its UN Ambassador Danny Danon labeling the resolution a "road map to more terror and bloodshed." Hamas condemned the US, accusing it of being complicit in the war’s devastation.
The conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, with a Hamas assault on Israel that left 1,206 people dead, mostly civilians. Gaza's health ministry reports over 43,900 deaths since the war began, predominantly civilians. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.4 million residents have been displaced, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis.
UN diplomats expressed frustration over the failure to adopt the resolution, citing the urgent need for humanitarian aid and a halt to the violence. Slovenia's Deputy Ambassador Ondina Blokar Drobic said the veto undermines efforts to address the escalating crisis.
The Security Council has struggled to agree on a unified response throughout the conflict. The U.S. has consistently used its veto to shield Israel, while Russia and China have also blocked resolutions. Human Rights Watch criticized the veto as enabling impunity for alleged crimes in Gaza.
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