cease-fire talks

The United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution on Wednesday that called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. The resolution, which was supported by 14 of the council’s 15 members, including U.S. allies Britain and France, was blocked because it demanded the immediate release of hostages held by Palestinian militant groups, a condition the U.S. opposed. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood stated that the U.S. could not support a resolution that did not prioritize the release of hostages, particularly given the situation of over 100 hostages from 20 countries. He emphasized that allowing Hamas to continue holding hostages without consequence would reward its tactics. The Palestinian deputy ambassador, Majed Bamya, expressed anger at the veto, highlighting the ongoing death toll of Palestinians, which the Gaza Health Ministry reports at over 43,000, and called for a ceasefire to protect all lives. Algerian Ambassador Amar Bendjama condemned the veto, accusing Israel of carrying out genocide and promising that the council’s elected members would push for stronger action. Israel’s U.N. Ambassador, Danny Danon, defended the U.S. veto, stating that the resolution would have led to more violence, not peace. Hamas condemned the veto, accusing the U.S. of complicity in the destruction of Gaza. The U.S. veto highlights ongoing tensions within the Security Council regarding the conflict, with Russia and China having previously vetoed U.S.-sponsored resolutions. Despite the veto, the elected members of the council reaffirmed their commitment to ending the conflict, securing the release of hostages, and delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.