The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Wednesday that called for an immediate ceasefire in the war in Gaza.
The resolution, which demanded an “immediate and permanent end” to the conflict and the removal of all restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, was introduced by ten elected members of the Security Council: Algeria, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, South Korea, Japan, Slovenia, Guyana, Ecuador, Malta, and Switzerland.
The resolution received 14 votes in favor, with Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France also supporting it. The United States was the lone vote against. As a permanent member of the Security Council, the U.S. used its veto power to block the resolution, preventing it from passing.
Following the vote, Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea stated that the draft resolution failed to condemn Hamas, did not call for its disarmament, and made no demand for the group to leave Gaza. She also argued that the resolution created a “false equivalence” between Israel and Hamas.
This marks the fourth time since October 7, 2023, that the United States has vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. In April, the U.S. also vetoed a separate measure that would have granted full UN membership to Palestine.
The United States has consistently justified its vetoes by claiming the resolutions undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts and do not sufficiently condemn Hamas or affirm Israel’s “right to defend itself.”
Wednesday’s vote illustrates that, despite reports of emerging differences between the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over aspects of U.S. Middle East policy, Washington remains unwilling to challenge Israel at the United Nations—particularly when ceasefire demands and calls to allow the entry of humanitarian aid directed toward the Israels military actions and ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza.