The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid in Gaza, which Washington said undermined diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
This was the first vote by the 15-member body on the situation since November, when the United States, a key ally of Israel, again blocked a text calling for an end to the fighting.
“This resolution will undermine diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire that reflects the realities on the ground and will embolden Hamas,” Washington's envoy to the UN, Dorothy Shea, said before the vote.
“This resolution also places a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas,” she added.
The draft resolution called for “an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, respected by all parties.” It also called for “the immediate, dignified, and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups.” | BGNES, AFP