US vetoes UN call for immediate end to Gaza war and release of hostages

A UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of captives was vetoed by the US on Thursday․ The vote came days before the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly, where Gaza will be a major topic and major US allies are expected to recognise an independent Palestinian state, Euronews writes.

All 14 other members of the Security Council voted in favour of the draft resolution that also called on Israel to remove all limitations on relief deliveries to the 2.1 million Palestinians living in Gaza, but the US envoy said the text did not denounce Hamas or recognise Israel’s right to defend itself.

“US opposition to this resolution will come as no surprise,” Morgan Ortagus, a senior U.S. policy adviser, said before the vote.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, expressed disappointment with the US veto, noting that Palestinians were disappointed because they had hoped the resolution would help end the difficult situation.