The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.
By Nathan Morley
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.
This action marks Washington’s sixth such veto since the start of the conflict.
U.S. Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus said the draft failed to sufficiently condemn Hamas and did not affirm Israel’s right to self-defence.
The resolution, backed by all 14 other council members, described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and urged Israel to lift restrictions on aid deliveries.
Internally displaced Palestinians flee Gaza City (ANSA)
Expanding Israeli military offensive
The vote came as the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that civilian lifelines in Gaza City are collapsing amid Israel’s expanding military offensive.
In the past five days, 11 emergency shelters housing roughly 11,000 people have sustained direct or indirect damage, OCHA said.
Humanitarian partners tracking displacement reported that more than 1 million people have been uprooted since the collapse of a ceasefire in mid-March.
As of Wednesday, 200,000 people had fled from northern to southern Gaza in the past month.
Israel’s military expands operations in Gaza City (ANSA)
