The US vetoed a UN resolution on Wednesday demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. The other 14 members of the UN Security Council voted in favor of the resolution. The resolution, the most recent of many Gaza ceasefire resolutions to reach the Security Council, called for “an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” and “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” However, the US stated its opposition to the demand for an “unconditional ceasefire” which “failed to release the hostages.”

Other member states expressed their dismay with the resolution’s failure. China’s representative remarked that “insistence on setting a precondition to ceasefire is tantamount to giving a green light to continuing war.” Palestine’s observer shared similar frustration, asserting that “this veto is a dangerous message to Israel that it can continue executing its plans.” This is the fourth ceasefire resolution the US has vetoed at the Security Council since October 7 last year. A US-backed resolution endorsing the implementation of a three-phase ceasefire plan passed in June, but little has changed in the conflict since then.

The UN resolution, which also would have demanded unhindered entry of aid to Gaza and rejected “any effort to starve Palestinians,” failed in light of recent UN reports that northern Gaza has received virtually no aid in the last 40 days and that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war.

Today’s veto also comes on the same day that the US Senate voted on a joint resolution of disapproval (JRD) for US weapons sales to Israel. Introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, the JRD would prevent the Pentagon from sending $20 billion of military aid to Israel. The measure received support from prominent Democratic senators. The Republican-majority House and President Biden must also approve the vote even if it passes the Senate.