Another UN Security Council vote on Gaza… another resounding veto by the United States. Tuesday’s vote marks no less than the third US veto of a security council resolution demanding ceasefire in Gaza. 

The US blasted the resolution set before the council as “wishful and irresponsible” and alleged that it puts current sensitive truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas in jeopardy. The UN text called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” and was proposed by Algeria for the 15-member Security Council’s approval. It was seen as having widespread Arab backing.

The US veto (screengrab)

The vote was 13-1 with the UK abstaining and the US being the lone ‘no’ vote, which is a familiar pattern historically on Israel-related issues.

“Colleagues, over the past few weeks, we have made incredibly clear that the resolution before the council would not achieve the goal of a sustainable peace, and may in fact run counter to it,” Biden’s ambassador to the UN Thomas-Greenfield said.

“Proceeding with a vote today was wishful and irresponsible. And so while we cannot support a resolution that would put sensitive negotiations in jeopardy, we look forward to engaging on a text we believe will address so many of the concerns we all share. A text that can, and should, be adopted by the council,” she added.

Had the resolution passed, it would have put immense pressure on the Netanyahu government to at least stop the impending Rafah offensive.

But Thomas-Greenfield’s emphasis was that this would have stymied diplomatic efforts to free the over 100 hostages still being held by Hamas. Israel too has said it sees international demands for ceasefire as essentially a gift to Hamas.

But the reality is that the Qatar-sponsored negotiations appear all but dead at this point. Netanyahu has said Hamas’ conditions are “delusional” – namely the demand to withdraw all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip first.

Arab nations are putting to a vote a U.N. resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, knowing it will be vetoed by the United States but hoping to show broad global support for ending the warhttps://t.co/DLH48DXZRq

— Abby Sewell (@sewella) February 20, 2024

Given the death toll in Gaza is nearing 30,000 mostly civilians killed, according to Palestinian ministry figures, the war is becoming increasingly unpopular internationally, and Israel’s actions have been especially condemned by Global South countries.

Tuesday’s vote is sure to create more space between Washington and even some of its allies in Europe. On Monday almost the entire European Union (minus Hungary) signed on to a text demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire.