Washington - On Friday, the United States exercised its veto power to block a United Nations resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Although 13 Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution proposed by the UAE, Britain chose to abstain from voting.
Expressing disappointment, UAE deputy ambassador Mohamed Abushahab criticized the U.S. veto, stating that the Security Council appears to be growing isolated and "untethered" from its mandate to ensure international peace and security. Supporters of the resolution warned of increased civilian casualties as Israel continued its military campaign against Hamas. The vote left the U.S. diplomatically isolated within the 15-member council.
The death toll from Israel's military campaign in Gaza exceeded 17,400, with 70% of the casualties being women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. US deputy ambassador Robert Wood defended the decision, arguing that halting military action would allow Hamas to maintain control in Gaza and potentially lead to future conflicts.
Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan insisted that a ceasefire would only be possible with the "return of all hostages and the destruction of Hamas." Riyad Mansour, UN envoy for Palestine, described the vote's outcome as "disastrous," emphasizing the precarious situation for millions of Palestinians.
Russia's deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky called the vote "one of the darkest days in the history of the Middle East" and accused the United States of issuing "a death sentence to thousands, if not tens of thousands more civilians in Palestine and Israel, including women and children."
Hamas strongly condemned the U.S. veto, labeling it 'unethical and inhumane' in an official statement. Ezzat El-Reshiq, a member of Hamas's political bureau, asserted that the U.S. obstruction of the ceasefire resolution amounted to direct participation with the occupation in killing Palestinians and committing more massacres and ethnic cleansing.
As fighting intensified in Gaza, with Israel striking Khan Younis in the south and Gaza City in the north, the death toll continued to rise. Despite the U.S. vetoing a humanitarian ceasefire, Washington had been pressuring Israel to protect Palestinian civilians.
Prior to the vote, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, stating that the region was at a breaking point. Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, which allows a UN chief to address threats to international peace and security. This marked the first use of Article 99 since 1971. Guterres anticipated a complete breakdown of public order in Gaza and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt.