U.S. Rejects Security Council Resolution on Gaza That Doesn’t Denounce Hamas

US Rejects UN Resolution for Gaza Ceasefire

The United States voted against a UN Security Council resolution on Wednesday that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, while also refraining from condemning Hamas, although it did urge the release of hostages.

The vote tally was 14-1, with the US as the only dissenting vote. Being one of the five permanent members of the Council means that its “no” vote effectively serves as a veto.

It’s reported that the US had suggested amendments to an initial draft resolution provided by the Council’s elected members, but the so-called “E10” chose not to make the changes the US proposed.

According to reports, the situation in Gaza prompted several council members, including Algeria, France, and Slovenia, to draft separate proposals. These nations eventually decided to merge their ideas, ultimately formulating a single draft alongside Guyana. On May 27, a meeting among all E10 countries took place to discuss advancing their draft as a unified product. Although there was some disagreement over specific language—particularly regarding Hamas and the release of hostages—a consensus emerged about the main provisions, which included an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and unfettered humanitarian aid access to Gaza.

This revised draft was then circulated for feedback among the five permanent members of the Council. The US reportedly expressed reservations, emphasizing the need for Hamas to denounce violence and for expressions of support for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Meanwhile, other permanent members showed overall backing for the resolution but suggested specific adjustments. France and the UK sought to include language condemning Hamas; however, Russia recommended edits, including potentially removing mentions of an IPC report. Russia’s abstention on June 10 expressed support for a ceasefire proposal put forth by the US earlier.

Returning to the E10, the group, spearheaded by Slovenia, opted to proceed with their original draft on May 30, citing it as a balanced approach reflecting the various perspectives of council members. Shortly afterward, the US broke the silence around the draft, voicing concerns that were shared bilaterally instead of in the open forum. The US criticized the timing of the initiative, highlighting that it coincided with ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a new ceasefire. Following further discussions with the US, E10 members maintained that their draft was fair and submitted it without changes.

The resolution vote appears to have been influenced by concerns surrounding the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a project that the Trump administration backed to provide direct assistance to Palestinians.

US Ambassador Dorothy Shea remarked, “It is inexplicable that many members of this council are still refusing to acknowledge Hamas can end this conflict by surrendering their arms tomorrow.”