A UN Security Council draft resolution supported by 14 of the 15 members was thwarted on Tuesday when the United States, on its own, used its veto to cast a dissenting vote.
The proposal was co-sponsored by 10 elected members of the Council – Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia – who have been referred to as the E-10.
The draft called for requiring "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza, calling for all parties to respect the truce. It also reaffirmed earlier Council calls for the unconditional release of all Hamas and other armed group hostages.
The draft text conveyed concern at Gaza's deteriorating humanitarian crisis, with sustained limitations on relief increasing the population to near famine levels, international food security monitors said in recent evaluations. It reiterated that international humanitarian and human rights law binds all parties.
Unhindered Aid and Restoration of Services
The resolution also called for all restrictions hindering humanitarian deliveries of aid to Gaza to be lifted. It also asked for unhampered functioning of UN agencies and humanitarian partners and urged the complete recovery of vital public services, as agreed in earlier Security Council positions.
The draft also expressed favor for sustained diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to revive the phased ceasefire framework contained in Resolution 2735 (2024). That framework would include an end to hostilities on a permanent basis, complete hostage and prisoner exchanges, Israeli withdrawal of its military from Gaza, and the beginning of a committed reconstruction process.
US: Resolution 'Fails on Multiple Fronts'
Before the vote, interim US Ambassador Dorothy Shea rejected the draft as "unacceptable," objecting both to its substance and to how it was delivered.
"The United States' opposition should not come as a surprise to anyone," she said. "This resolution is defective not only for what it says, but also for what it doesn't say. It falls short of what we expect.
Shea highlighted the failure to explicitly condemn Hamas and call for the group to disarm and leave Gaza. Shea pointed out that Hamas had rejected a number of ceasefire proposals, most recently one offered just a few days before that outlined a route toward conflict closure and hostage releases.
"The Security Council should not be rewarding Hamas' refusal to make concessions," Shea cautioned. "There can be no future in Gaza for Hamas or any other terrorist group. As Secretary [Marco] Rubio said: 'If even an ember remains, it will reignite into flames.'"
Humanitarian Collapse Looms
The vetoed resolution came amid escalating concern from UN agencies about Gaza’s dire humanitarian outlook. Health services are nearing complete collapse, displacement is rising, and casualties continue to mount. Critics say the privatized aid distribution model being implemented with US-Israeli support is marginalizing existing UN agencies, exacerbating access issues.
UN humanitarian official Tom Fletcher highlighted the seriousness of the crisis: "The world watches, day by day, as Palestinians are shot, injured or killed just for trying to get food. These moments are heartbreaking and need to stop.
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