The United States has once again exercised its veto power at the United Nations Security Council, blocking a draft resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This marks the fifth time the US has taken such action, primarily to support Israel amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises. The veto drew sharp criticism from various nations, including the United Kingdom, which voiced support for the resolution and condemned Israel’s military actions.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is grave. On Tuesday, Israeli shelling, fire or aerial drone strikes killed at least 27 people waiting in line for emergency food aid, hundreds more injured in a distribution point packed with civilians. As UN relief chief Tom Fletcher recently observed, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is chilling. Every single day, the world is witnessing some of the most horrific scenes imaginable as Palestinians are shot, injured, or killed while attempting to get food,” he said.
UK’s ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, expressed her disapproval of Israel’s military operations and its restrictions on aid. She labeled Israel’s new aid system as “inhumane” and insisted that “Israel needs to end its restrictions on aid now: let the UN and humanitarians do their job to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity.” Woodward condemned the Israeli government’s actions in furthering these decisions as “unjustifiable, disproportionate and counterproductive.”
Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Saar, celebrated the US veto and extended Israel’s gratitude to President Biden for standing by Israel. As a Christian evangelical, he passionately defended Israel’s position. He continued by saying that “the proposed resolution does nothing but empower Hamas and jeopardize American efforts to negotiate a hostage deal.” Saar made clear that Israel would oppose any such measure without a strong denunciation of Hamas. He urged the disarmament of the group as an essential next step.
Draft resolution sponsored by the four permanent members of the UN Security Council—the US, Russia, China, and France—joined by the United Kingdom in favor. Conversely, US representative Dorothy Shea called the proposal “unacceptable,” claiming that it did not go far enough in condemning Hamas’s actions. The UK’s permanent representative to the UN voiced support for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire,” reflecting a growing concern among international actors regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
As a result, tensions are rising across the region. Israel has previously threatened Palestinians against using any roads leading to humanitarian aid centers in Gaza, designating these areas as war zones. In response to the ongoing violence and restrictions, the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) announced that its distribution centers would remain closed for a second consecutive day on Thursday morning.