UNITED NATIONS. The United States on Wednesday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza, sparking widespread criticism of the Biden administration. The resolution, proposed by 10 non-permanent council members, also demanded the release of hostages held in the conflict.
Despite 14 members supporting the resolution, the U.S. stood alone in its opposition, using its veto power as a permanent member to block the measure. Robert Wood, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., justified the decision, stating, “A durable end to the war must come with the release of the hostages. These two urgent goals are inextricably linked. This resolution abandoned that necessity, and for that reason, the United States could not support it.”
Wood added that the text of the resolution risked sending a “dangerous message” to Hamas, implying there was no need to negotiate. The resolution’s rejection comes amid a devastating conflict that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Israel’s military response has reportedly killed nearly 44,000 people in Gaza and displaced its entire population of 2.3 million at least once.
The veto drew sharp rebukes from several council members. Vanessa Frazier, Malta’s U.N. ambassador, lamented, “It is deeply regretted that due to the use of the veto, this council has once again failed to uphold its responsibility to maintain international peace and security. The text of the resolution was by no means a maximalist one. It represented the bare minimum of what is needed to begin to address the desperate situation on the ground.”
Other members echoed the criticism. France’s ambassador, Nicolas de Riviere, pointed out that the resolution “very firmly” required the release of hostages, including two French nationals still held in Gaza. China’s ambassador, Fu Cong, accused the U.S. of enabling the violence to continue, stating, “Insistence on setting a precondition for a ceasefire is tantamount to giving the green light to continue the war and condoning the continued killing.”
The U.S. decision comes as President Joe Biden’s administration maintains strong diplomatic and military support for Israel while attempting to broker a deal that would link a ceasefire with the release of hostages. Critics argue that the U.S. veto undermines efforts to address the humanitarian crisis, with food security experts warning of imminent famine in Gaza.
Ahead of the vote, a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed elected council members rejected that compromise language proposed by Britain under pressure from adversaries like Russia and China. However, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, defended the veto, asserting that the resolution favored appeasement of Hamas. “History will remember who stood with the hostages and who abandoned them,” he said.
As the humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to escalate, the Security Council remains deadlocked, unable to take unified action to address the crisis.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
