Chicago – November 20, 2024
U.S. Vetoes U.N. Resolution Calling for Gaza Cease-Fire
The United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution on Wednesday that called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. The U.S. objected because the resolution did not tie the cease-fire to the immediate release of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 2023 attacks in Israel.
Fourteen of the council’s 15 members, including U.S. allies Britain and France, voted in favor of the resolution, but the U.S. veto stopped it.
U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood explained that the U.S. had worked hard to avoid using its veto. However, the resolution’s language did not meet U.S. conditions. “We made it clear we couldn’t support an unconditional cease-fire without securing the hostages’ release,” Wood said, adding that Hamas might have seen such a cease-fire as encouragement for its actions.
The proposed resolution called for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent cease-fire” by all parties and demanded the immediate release of all hostages. According to the U.S., more than 100 hostages from over 20 countries have been held for over 400 days.
