The United States on Wednesday was the lone dissenter when it vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
U.S. representatives said the reason for their objections stemmed from the document’s failure to make the release of hostages confined by Hamas in the coastal enclave a requirement for the suspension of hostilities.
“We made clear throughout negotiations we could not support an unconditional ceasefire that failed to release the hostages,” explained Deputy U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood. “Hamas would have seen it as a vindication of its cynical strategy to hope and pray the international community forgets about the fate of more than 100 hostages from more than 20 member states who have been held for 410 days.”
A senior U.S. official who briefed reporters ahead of the vote reportedly said the United Kingdom presented a compromise declaration acceptable to Washington, but it was rejected by most members of the influential committee.
The unnamed State Department employee also accused China and Russia of encouraging language likely to provoke American disapproval.
Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, thanked the U.S. delegation for their action, calling the measure a “shameful resolution” before confirming that his government “will not stop until we bring back all of our boys and girls who are being held by Hamas.”
Authorities in Jerusalem believe around 60 of the 251 individuals abducted by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel are still alive.
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