US Vetoes Gaza Ceasefire Resolution at Security Council.

New York: The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, on the grounds it would not have secured the release of hostages. Despite having secured 14 votes in favor, the draft resolution put forward by the 10 elected members of the Security Council (E10), failed to pass owing to the negative vote by a permanent member, the US. The text also reiterated the Council's demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. According to Qatar News Agency, Deputy US Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, stated following the veto that the US could not support an unconditional ceasefire that failed to address the release of hostages. "These two urgent goals are inextricably linked. This resolution abandoned that necessity, and for that reason, the United States could not support it," Wood emphasized. Algeria's permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Amar Bendjama, expressed his disappointment, stating, "It is a sad day for the Security Council, for the United Nations and the international community as a whole." Bendjama highlighted that significant concessions were made during negotiations, yet one member blocked any action from the council. He criticized that the message to the Israeli power was one of impunity, while the Palestinian people received a message of indifference to their suffering. Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia remarked on the missed opportunity for the Council to demand an immediate, unconditional, and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza along with the release of all hostages. He criticized the United States for obstructing these necessary actions to address what he described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Majed Bamya, deputy permanent observer of the State of Palestine, commented that the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people is about more than just the hostages. He emphasized that while a ceasefire will not solve everything, it is a crucial first step. Bamya criticized the Security Council for not utilizing its resolutions to effect change on the ground and for merely documenting violations without taking action to prevent them.