The United States rejected a resolution by the UN Security Council that called for an immediate, unconditional, permanent ceasefire in Gaza as Israel’s attack across the enclave killed nearly 100 Palestinians amid thwarted aid in the last 24 hours.
The United States was the only country to vote against the measure on Wednesday, but 14 other members of the council voted in favor.
The resolution also called for the release of Israeli prisoners of war in Gaza, but Washington said it was “non-starter” as demand for a ceasefire is not directly related to prisoner releases.
In her remarks before the vote began, U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea made her state opposition to the resolution, with 10 countries proposing it to a 15-member council, making it painfully clear.
“The United States has taken a very clear stand ever since the start of this conflict that Israel has the right to protect itself, including defeating Hamas and ensuring that it will never again be in a position that threatens Israel,” she told the council.
China’s ambassador Hucon said Israel’s actions “crossed all the red lines” of international humanitarian law, and a serious violation of the UN resolution. “However, due to shields by a certain country, these violations have been suspended or are not accountable.”
Marwan Vishara, senior political analyst at Al Jazeera, said the US veto was “very isolated.”
“Obviously there’s a storm of gatherings… in so many countries” confronting the US at UNSC. “What are they doing in Israel and Gaza, the only one trying to stop this convergence and rising trend is the United States. Israel is not defending itself in Gaza. Israel is defending occupation and siege in Gaza,” added Vishara.
“Open the intersection”
Despite global demands for a truce, Israel repeatedly rejected the demand for an unconditional or permanent ceasefire, claiming Hamas cannot remain in power or Gaza. It will only expand military attacks in Gaza, kill and wound thousands of more Palestinians, maintain brutal blockades on enclaves, and allow for trickle-controlled aid where hunger is looming.
At least 95 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday, and more than 440 were injured, according to Gaza health officials.
Reported by Deir El-Balah, Tareq Abu Azzoum of Al Jazeera said there was a clear surge in attacks. He said there were merciless Israeli strikes out there throughout central Gaza and the territory.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces warned hungry Palestinians against approaching the road to a US aid distribution site run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), stopping aid all day while saying the area is “deemed a combat zone.”
The move comes after Israeli forces fired several times at those seeking assistance, killing more than 100 Palestinians and wounding hundreds more since the GHF began operations on May 27th.
Witnesses said Israeli soldiers fired fire on a crowd that had been chunky before dawn on Tuesday to seek food. The starving images of starving Palestinians scrambling a small aid package of hungry Palestinians grazing in cage-like lines and then lit up, sparking global rage.
Israeli forces admitted to shooting someone seeking assistance on Tuesday, but claimed they fired when “suspectful” deviated from the prescribed route.
The family of Reem al-Akras, who was killed in a massive Israeli shooting on Tuesday at a hospital in southern Gaza, lamented her death.
“She brought us some food, and this is what happened to her,” her son, Zayn Zidane, said in tears. Her husband, Mohamed Zidane, said “unarmed people every day” were killed. “This is not humanitarian assistance. It’s a trap.”
Currently, the new aid distribution process from just three sites has been widely criticized by rights groups and the United Nations. They also say that the aid model that uses civilian US security and logistics workers militarizes aid.
Prior to the UNSC vote, UN Aid Chief Tom Fletcher once again emphasized that the UN and aid organizations have been permitted to support the people of Gaza, with plans, supplies and experience.
“Open the intersection. Let go of life-saving aids from all directions, from all directions. We lift the restrictions on what we can bring in and how much aid we can bring.
The United Nations has long condemned Israel, Israel and lawlessness, and lawlessness, by blocking aid and distribution in Gaza. Israel accused Hamas of stealing the aid, and the group vehemently denied it, and the World Food Program says there is no evidence to support the allegations.
James Elder, a spokesman for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), currently in Gaza, described the “terror” he witnessed within just 24 hours. Speaking from Almawasi, the elder told Al Jazeera that hospitals and streets in Gaza are full of malnourished children. “I see the teenage boys crying and show me their ribs,” he said.
The UNSC voted for 14 Gaza-related resolutions and approved four since the war began in October 2023. It was the first Wednesday vote since November 2024.
Hamas still held 58 prisoners, a third of whom were thought to be alive.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, the Israeli attacks killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.