By Atoyebi Nike
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution seeking an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The vote was 14 to 1, with the US as the only country against it.
The resolution also asked for full access for humanitarian aid and the release of hostages. It marked the first Council vote on Gaza since November, when the US blocked a similar move.
US envoy Dorothy Shea said the resolution would harm ongoing peace talks. She claimed it would benefit Hamas and unfairly compare them with Israel.
“This vote risks the success of real negotiations. It also treats Israel and Hamas as equals, which is false,” Shea said.
The resolution described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic. It called for lifting all barriers to aid delivery. It also demanded the unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas and others.
Many countries condemned the US veto. Pakistan’s ambassador, Asim Ahmad, said it was a serious failure by the Council. “This decision will be remembered as a moral failure with long-term effects,” he said.
China’s representative, Fu Cong, also criticized the US. “The US is the main reason the Council cannot stop the war,” he said.
This is the first US veto under President Joe Biden. It has increased pressure on the US over its support for Israel.
The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Since then, international pressure has grown for Israel to stop its military campaign.
Israel blocked aid into Gaza for over two months. Some UN trucks were allowed in during May. But the UN says it is not nearly enough to meet the urgent needs of the people.
