US Again Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Demanding Immediate Gaza Ceasefire

Last Updated:September 19, 2025, 07:25 IST

US vetoed a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that would have demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

US again vetoes UN Security Council Gaza ceasefire call.

The United States on Thursday once again vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that had demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, saying that the effort did not go far enough in condemning Hamas. The resolution also asked Israel to lift all restrictions on aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave.

The 14 other members of the United Nations’ most powerful body voted in favor of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic". Notably, this was the sixth time the US had cast a veto in the Security Council over the nearly two-year war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas.

The text, drafted by the elected 10 members of the 15-member council, would also have demanded the immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups.

“Famine has been confirmed in Gaza – not projected, not declared, confirmed," Denmark’s UN Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen told the council before the vote.

“Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its military operation in Gaza City, further deepening the suffering of civilians. As a result, it is this catastrophic situation, this humanitarian and human failure, that has compelled us to act today," she added.

Gaza City and surrounding areas are officially suffering from famine, and it will likely spread, a global hunger monitor determined last month.

US Shielding Israel

The United States traditionally shields its ally Israel at the United Nations. But in a rare move last week it backed a Security Council statement condemning recent strikes on Qatar, though the text it did not mention Israel was responsible.

The move reflected US President Donald Trump’s unhappiness with the attack ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the U.S. veto on Thursday showed that just a week later Washington was again staunchly giving diplomatic protection to Israel.

"Hamas is responsible for starting and continuing this war. Israel has accepted proposed terms that would end the war, but Hamas continues to reject them. This war could end today if Hamas freed the hostages and laid down its arms," U.S. diplomat Morgan Ortagus told the council before the vote.

Israel was not happy with the Security Council statement on the strikes on Qatar, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters on Thursday, adding: "But I think, overall, the level of cooperation with the U.S. is so high that we were OK with that."

Danon said that after Netanyahu addressed the annual U.N. General Assembly gathering of world leaders next week the prime minister would travel to Washington to meet with Trump on September 29. Netanyahu said earlier this month he had been invited by Trump to visit the White House.

The U.N. Security Council is also due to hold a high-level meeting on Gaza on Tuesday while world leaders are in New York.

An October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza. Hamas killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and about 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. More than 64,000 people, also mostly civilians, have since been killed during the war in Gaza, according to local health authorities.

News Desk

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...Read More

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...

Read More

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!

News world US Again Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Demanding Immediate Gaza Ceasefire

Read More