UNSC fails again on Gaza ceasefire as US exercises veto power

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.