US vetoes UN resolution calling for immediate Gaza ceasefire, stands alone in 14-1 vote

The United States stood alone on June 3 as it vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza — a move that drew sharp global criticism and further exposed Washington's diplomatic isolation over the deepening crisis.

The draft resolution, supported by all other 14 members of the Security Council, underscored the catastrophic humanitarian toll in Gaza, where two million residents are facing imminent famine. The vote came amid mounting international calls to halt the bloodshed that has killed thousands and crippled Gaza's infrastructure after months of conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Acting US Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, defended the veto, arguing the resolution would jeopardize American-led efforts to secure a more sustainable ceasefire that includes the release of hostages. “The United States has been clear: We would not support any measure that fails to condemn Hamas and does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza,” she told the council, according to Reuters.

The resolution’s language notably omitted two key US demands: condemnation of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war, and a clear requirement for Hamas militants to disarm and withdraw from Gaza.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the onus was on Hamas to end the war. “Hamas could end this brutal conflict immediately by laying down its arms and releasing all remaining hostages,” he said.

Israel, which re-launched its offensive in Gaza after ending a two-month ceasefire in March, has rejected calls for any unconditional or permanent truce. It maintains that Hamas’ presence in the region is incompatible with lasting peace.

According to Gaza’s health authorities, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 45 Palestinians on June 3. The Israeli military also reported the death of one soldier in ongoing ground operations.

Hamas swiftly condemned the US veto, accusing the Biden administration of “blind bias” in favor of Israel — a sentiment echoed by rights groups and humanitarian organizations alarmed by the scale of destruction and the plight of civilians trapped in Gaza.

As diplomatic efforts falter and the Security Council remains deadlocked, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with aid still only trickling in after Israel eased restrictions under international pressure following an 11-week blockade.