New York - The United States used its veto power in the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, effectively thwarting the recognition of a Palestinian state. The veto was employed to block a draft resolution proposing the admission of the State of Palestine as a full member of the UN, a move that garnered support from 12 council members while Britain and Switzerland abstained.

Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, clarified that the U.S. stance was not a rejection of Palestinian statehood but rather an insistence that such recognition should stem from direct negotiations between the involved parties.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the U.S. veto as "unfair, unethical, and unjustified," while Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour reaffirmed their determination despite the setback.

The Palestinian pursuit of full UN membership coincided with ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as well as Israel's expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, actions deemed illegal by the UN.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz lauded the U.S. for its veto, while Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan criticized the 12 council members who supported the resolution, asserting that their vote would only embolden Palestinian rejectionism and hinder prospects for peace.

Currently, the Palestinians hold the status of a non-member observer state at the UN, a recognition granted in 2012. However, achieving full UN membership requires approval from the Security Council followed by at least two-thirds of the General Assembly.

The Security Council has long advocated for a two-state solution, with Palestinians seeking a state comprising the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, territories captured by Israel in 1967. The Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas, exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, while Hamas controls Gaza since 2007.