WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The U.S. vetoed a United Nations resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in the Israel-Hamas war.
The Biden administration says the measure would interfere with its ongoing efforts to arrange a deal between Israel and Hamas.
The U.S. has its own ceasefire plan which officials hope will secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield argued the resolution would send the wrong message to Hamas in the middle of delicate negotiations.
“Without the hostage releases, we know the fighting is going to continue,” she said.
Instead, Thomas-Greenfield urged the UN to support a U.S. cease-fire plan.
It calls for a temporary pause in fighting in Gaza and demands Hamas release the remaining hostages.
It would also lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid deliveries.
Palestine’s ambassador to the UN demanded an immediate ceasefire and criticized the U.S. veto.
“The message given today to Israel with this veto is that it can continue to get away with murder,” said Riyad Mansour, State of Palestine Ambassador to the UN.
The Gaza Health Ministry said Israel’s military has killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians mostly women and children.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN stressed a pause in the war would only give Hamas more time to regroup.
“A ceasefire is a death sentence for many more Israelis and Gazans,” said Gilad Menashe Erdan, Israel Ambassador to the UN.
The clock is ticking for action at the UN as Israel considers a move into Rafah where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering.
President Biden has repeatedly called on Israel to protect Palestinian civilians and hold off on a major ground offensive in Rafah.
