The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Gaza has been vetoed by the US for the fifth time. Hamas stated that the US’s use of its veto power signifies direct support for Israel’s “genocide against Palestinian civilians.”

A draft resolution submitted to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was vetoed by the US, citing the resolution’s failure to condemn Hamas.

This veto marked the first instance of the US exercising this power in the UNSC during the Donald Trump administration and was the fifth US veto of a resolution concerning the Gaza war, which commenced in October 2023.

The UNSC had similarly failed to pass resolutions in previous ceasefire attempts.

The UNSC convened to discuss the Gaza resolution, which was endorsed by the council’s 10 elected members (E10) and presented on the preceding day by Slovenia, the group’s coordinator.

During the subsequent vote, the US exercised its veto power on the ceasefire resolution, which had been introduced due to the dire humanitarian situation.

The resolution, proposing urgent intervention for civilians in Gaza amidst ongoing Israeli attacks, was rejected by the US, a permanent member with veto authority, despite receiving 14 affirmative votes in the recently concluded ballot.

US Representative Dorothy Shea justified the veto, stating, “Our opposition to this resolution should come as no surprise. It is unacceptable for what it contains, what it does not contain, and the way it was put forward.” Shea added, “The US has clearly stated it will not support any measure that does not condemn Hamas.”

“Fourteen affirmative votes carry a strong message”

Evaluating the US veto on behalf of the E10 group, Slovenia’s UN Permanent Representative Samuel Zbogar remarked, “The resolution was not adopted. However, fourteen affirmative votes carry a strong message.”

Zbogar emphasized that the US veto prevented the Council from acting, stating, “When faced with a choice between abandoning the rules that have guided the international community for 80 years and the right to veto, we chose humanity.”

He noted their awareness of differing stances within the UNSC, explaining their decision to focus the draft resolution solely on the humanitarian crisis. “We thought the Council should unite around this urgent demand for unhindered humanitarian access and the delivery of food to starving civilians,” Zbogar added.

The Slovenian Representative stressed that starving civilians and inflicting “immense” suffering upon them is “inhumane and contrary to international law.” He remarked, “No war aim can justify such an act. We hoped and expected this to be our common understanding.”

Hamas: US supports crimes against humanity

Hamas asserted that the US veto of the UNSC Gaza resolution constitutes direct support for Israel’s “genocide against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.”

A written statement from Hamas condemned the US veto, which single-handedly blocked the draft resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza submitted to the UNSC.

The statement read, “The US veto represents Washington’s blind bias towards the fascist occupation government and confirms its support for the crimes against humanity it is committing in the Gaza Strip.”

Highlighting Washington’s disregard for international law, the statement described the veto as an “arrogant stance reflecting a complete rejection of any international effort to stop the shedding of Palestinian blood.”

The statement further assessed, “The US stance means a green light for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a war criminal sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC), to continue his brutal genocidal war against innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, in the Gaza Strip, and reveals its full complicity in the crime Israel continues to commit.”

Hamas noted in its statement: “The UNSC’s failure to stop the 20-month-long war, break the siege, or allow food aid to enter has raised fundamental questions about the role of international community institutions and the effectiveness of international laws and conventions that Israel continues to violate daily without any accountability or effective action against it.”

The statement urged the international community to “act urgently against this moral and political collapse, to immediately stop the genocidal war, and to pressure Israeli leaders to be held accountable for the crimes they committed against the Palestinian people.”

Resolution submitted by 10 elected UNSC members

The resolution proposing urgent intervention in Gaza was submitted to the UNSC presidency on the previous day by its 10 elected member countries (E10), with a vote requested for the current day.

The resolution highlighted the further deterioration of the civilian population’s situation in Gaza following Israel’s resumption of attacks in March.

The E10 group stated they had prepared a concise draft resolution expressing “serious concerns” about the situation in Gaza, including the risk of famine, and reaffirming that all parties must comply with their obligations under international law.

Countries that endorsed the resolution include Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Panama, Pakistan, South Korea, Sierra Leone, and Somalia, with Slovenia serving as the E10 coordinator.

The Israeli army announced that Palestinians are prohibited from approaching so-called humanitarian aid distribution points today due to “renovation and reorganization work.”

Army Spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated in his announcement that the so-called humanitarian aid distribution points in Gaza would not be open today due to “renovation, reorganization, and efficiency improvement work.”

Spokesperson Adraee said, “Residents of the Gaza Strip; pay attention to the announcement by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) that it will close humanitarian aid distribution centers on Wednesday.”

Adraee emphasized that today, movement on roads leading to the so-called aid distribution points, “considered conflict zones,” and entry into the distribution center areas are strictly prohibited.

As a result of the Israeli army targeting Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid yesterday morning at the El-Alem so-called aid distribution point in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, 27 people lost their lives.

In a statement made yesterday by the Palestinian government’s Media Office in Gaza, it was announced that 102 people had been killed and 490 injured in attacks by the Israeli army targeting Palestinians struggling with hunger in distribution areas established under the guise of “aid” by the US-undertaken, Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Fund since May 27.

Israel’s new weapon in Gaza: Aid distributions

The US-undertaken, Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Fund announced on May 27 that it had “begun operations in Gaza” and that trucks for so-called aid distribution were on their way.

The Israeli army, however, announced that four so-called aid distribution centers had been established in the Gaza Strip, three in the south and one in the north.

In the Israeli army’s statement, which declared more than 80% of the Gaza Strip a prohibited zone for Palestinians by dividing it into cantons, it was noted that two of the so-called aid distribution centers on the Morag Corridor had commenced operations.

On the first day of the so-called aid distribution, three Palestinians were killed and dozens injured as a result of fire opened during the chaos that erupted when Palestinians, subjected to starvation by the Israeli army, flocked to the center in Tel Sultan.

Images from the GHF-controlled distribution point were likened by social media users to symbolic photographs taken at concentration camps established by German Nazis during World War II.

Tom Barrack, the US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Representative for Syria, gave an interview to NTV channel after assuming his post.

In the interview broadcast yesterday, Barrack made critical assessments regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, the situation in Gaza, Syrian policy, and Türkiye-US relations.

The Ambassador stated that President Donald Trump’s patience, particularly concerning the Russia-Ukraine issue, has reached its limit and that Türkiye could assume a central role in the resolution process.

‘Türkiye plays a key role’

Referring to the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Barrack highlighted Türkiye’s significance in this process.

Barrack said, “Yes, I believe Türkiye plays a key role. All these senseless wars are a disaster for all of us. Türkiye has traditional cooperation with both Russia and Ukraine. This enables you to establish a crucial dialogue.”

Noting that President Trump’s efforts to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin have not yet yielded the desired outcome, the Ambassador addressed reports that the Russian leader, in response to Türkiye’s proposal for a quadrilateral meeting, wished to meet directly with Trump instead of Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Barrack stated, “Of course, I cannot speak on behalf of President Trump. However, it certainly needs to be a meaningful meeting where the decisions made are effective and come with security guarantees. Türkiye can assist in narrowing down a few issues necessary to formulate a sensible solution for all relevant parties.”

Ambassador Barrack continued: “President Trump’s patience has now run out; you cannot say he is a very patient person. With Türkiye intervening at this point and eliminating operational problems, a summit-level meeting between leaders could occur. And I believe we can resolve this issue for everyone.”

‘Our Syria policy will not resemble the policy of the last 100 years’

Barrack also provided important insights into the US’s future strategy in Syria, emphasizing that the current policy will change.

Barrack said, “Of course, what I can assure you is this: our Syria policy today will not resemble the Syria policy of the last 100 years, because none of those approaches worked.”

In response to whether the US would withdraw from Syria, he referred to President Trump’s previous statements, indicating that the number of US military bases would be reduced.

Barrack added, “Certainly, the reduction of our military bases is also significant. The number will eventually decrease from 8 bases to 1.”

When the interviewer, Kilislioğlu, reminded him that US support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was justified by the fight against ISIS and asked, “When do you think the US will say, ‘Okay, we don’t need the YPG’?” Barrack responded, “I don’t believe the outcome you are referring to is the anticipated one. Because the SDF is an ally. The support provided to the SDF is support given to an ally. This is a very important factor for our Congress. Guiding them towards integration into a new Syrian government is exceptionally crucial. Everyone needs to maintain reasonable expectations.”

The Ambassador mentioned that President Trump, together with President Erdoğan, said he would “give the new regime a chance,” an outcome nobody had predicted.

Türkiye-Israel tension in Syria and regional dynamics

Addressing the Türkiye-Israel tension in Syria, Barrack recalled that Türkiye was among the first nations to recognize Israel, stressing that the issue is not a religious conflict.

Stating that the Golan Heights issue pertains to water and security, Barrack said, “Therefore, the dialogue between Türkiye and Israel coincides with the dialogue between the YPG and Türkiye, and Türkiye is a very critical, key element here. It is a key element that will persuade the rest of the regional powers that Israel does not seek territorial expansion and is not attempting to seize Syria. Moreover, Türkiye has no designs on Syrian territory.”

Barrack suggested that a new commercial sphere could emerge in the region, fostering cooperation among Turkish companies, Gulf capital, and Israeli innovation.

“I believe all these borders trace back to Sykes-Picot, to the San Remo Agreement, to all the failed demarcations. It is simply time for reassignment and to reach an agreement,” Barrack stated, adding that the situation in Lebanon would likely follow a similar trajectory, requiring Hezbollah and Hamas to take a subordinate role. He characterized Iran as “a completely different question.”

Noting Türkiye’s location in a challenging geopolitical area, Barrack said, “We live in a very difficult region, a very challenging zip code, but Türkiye is coping incredibly well. However, the future lies in regional respectability, meaning not just as a NATO ally.” He also criticized Türkiye’s non-acceptance into the European Union as “utterly ridiculous.”

‘There is a senseless massacre in Gaza’

Ambassador Barrack, also responding to questions about the situation in Gaza, described the events as a “senseless massacre.”

Barrack stated, “Of course, I cannot speak on behalf of the administration, but I believe I can speak on behalf of the American people. There is a senseless massacre in Gaza, and this is horrifying for everyone.”

While condemning Hamas’s actions, he asserted that Palestinians should not be equated with Hamas.

Explaining that the solution to the problem is complex and that individuals like Steve Witkoff are working with President Trump towards a resolution, Barrack said, “I believe the President’s intention is to resolve all these issues in the very near future. We can refer to this as a two-state solution or a permanent solution.”

Barrack summarized the Trump administration’s foreign policy philosophy with President Trump’s words: “He says, ‘Do not trust us for long if you do not want to end senseless deaths everywhere, because America will no longer be globalist, it is not in neocon thinking; we want peace, prosperity, and understanding.’”

A new era in US-Türkiye relations?

Referring to relations between Türkiye and the US, Barrack highlighted the complexity of the S-400 issue. He explained that Türkiye shot down a Russian jet in 2015, experienced a coup attempt in 2016, and required air defense systems. Barrack noted that Türkiye turned to Russia due to difficulties in acquiring Patriot missiles at that time. Barrack said, “This, naturally, caused confusion for everyone. Because while NATO is intended to protect against Russia, Türkiye never used the S-400s, not even taking them out of the box.”

Emphasizing that Türkiye has developed its own air defense industry and the importance of TB2 drones and the Kaan jet, Barrack stated, “The relationship this President wants to establish with Türkiye, with your President, is a different kind of relationship—not strategic, not event-oriented, not transactional. It elevates it to a different level where America is not dictating defense directives to Europe; it is a completely different echelon.”

He indicated that Trump views Türkiye as being in a position where it can be most effective within a geography that has become the most influential region globally.