The United States has vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes have resulted in nearly 100 Palestinian deaths within just 24 hours. This veto set the U.S. apart, as the other 14 members of the council unanimously supported the resolution.
The resolution not only called for a ceasefire but also urged for the release of Israeli captives held by Hamas in Gaza. However, the U.S. deemed the focus on the ceasefire as a “non-starter,” arguing that it should not be linked to the captive release. Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea articulated the U.S. stance, emphasizing that Israel has the right to defend itself against threats from Hamas, reinforcing a long-held U.S. perspective on the ongoing conflict.
China’s Ambassador Fu Cong condemned Israel’s actions during the discussions, claiming they have “crossed every red line” of international humanitarian law. He pointed to a lack of accountability for these violations, attributing it to the protection Israel receives from one country—namely, the United States.
Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara remarked on the isolation the U.S. faces in the UNSC due to its veto. He highlighted the growing opposition from numerous countries to U.S. actions, stating, “It’s only the U.S. that is trying to block this converging and rising current against Israel.” Bishara underscored the distinction, noting that Israel’s actions and justifications are less about self-defense and more about maintaining its occupation and siege.
Calls for a truce have been prevalent on the global stage, yet Israel remains steadfast in its rejection of an unconditional ceasefire, arguing that Hamas must be eliminated. This stance has allowed the military offensive to persist, leading to thousands of Palestinian casualties while humanitarian aid remains severely restricted. According to health officials in Gaza, at least 95 Palestinians died, with over 440 injured from the attacks on Wednesday.
Reporting from Deir el-Balah, Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum described a surge in Israeli strikes across Gaza, with relentless bombing becoming apparent throughout the region. Concurrently, Israeli forces issued warnings to aid seekers to stay away from designated distribution zones, labeling these areas as combat zones. This announcement came after several tragic incidents where Israeli troops fired upon individuals seeking aid, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries.
The Israeli military acknowledged its fire was directed at aid seekers when they allegedly strayed from designated paths. However, many eyewitness accounts have fueled global outrage as images depicting starving Palestinians scrambling for minimal aid have circulated widely. The tragic case of Reem al-Akhras, killed during an Israeli shooting while retrieving food for her family, highlights the human cost of the ongoing crisis.
Her son, Zain Zidan, mourned her loss, and her husband, Mohamed Zidan, lamented, “This is not humanitarian aid – it’s a trap,” as they grieve the daily losses of unarmed citizens caught in the conflict.
Critiques of Israel’s new aid distribution strategy, limited to three sites and utilizing private U.S. security forces, have emerged from rights organizations and UN officials who argue it contravenes essential humanitarian principles. Prior to the UNSC vote, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher issued a plea for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, insisting that aid groups have effective plans and resources available.
“Open the crossings – all of them. Let in lifesaving aid at scale, from all directions. Lift the restrictions on what and how much aid we can bring in,” Fletcher asserted in a statement, emphasizing the urgent need for unhindered aid delivery.
The UN has consistently pointed fingers at Israeli actions and the prevailing unrest in Gaza as barriers preventing effective humanitarian aid distribution. While Israel accuses Hamas of misappropriating aid, the World Food Programme has found no evidence supporting this claim.
Describing harrowing scenes from Gaza, UNICEF spokesman James Elder, currently in the area, spoke of malnourished children and distressed teenagers pleading for food. “Gaza’s hospitals and streets are filled with malnourished children. I’m seeing teenage boys in tears, showing me their ribs,” Elder recounted, revealing the dire situation the besieged population faces.
Since October 2023, the UNSC has reviewed 14 resolutions related to Gaza, approving four, with the latest vote occurring just after the long hiatus since November 2024. Currently, Hamas retains 58 captives, with a third of them believed to be alive, while the escalating Israeli offensive has reportedly killed over 54,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
As international calls for accountability and humanitarian concern intensify, the situation continues to evolve, further complicating an already volatile conflict.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/4/us-vetoes-unsc-ceasefire-resolution-as-death-starvation-consume-gaza
