U.S. vetoes U.N. ceasefire resolution as Gaza death toll rises and aid crisis deepens

U.S. vetoes U.N. ceasefire resolution as Gaza death toll rises and aid crisis deepens

The United States on Wednesday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional cease-fire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian aid access. The resolution, introduced by 10 nonpermanent Council members, gained support from 14 of the 15 Council members, with the U.S. casting the lone dissenting vote.

This marks the fifth time Washington has blocked or abstained from cease-fire measures since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023. U.S. interim representative Dorothy Camille Shea defended the veto, stating that the resolution threatened Israel’s security and failed to address Hamas’s continued presence.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated sharply. Over 56,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, have been killed, according to Gaza health officials. UNICEF reported that around 50,000 children have been killed or injured in the conflict. Gaza’s civilian infrastructure lies in ruins, with thousands of homes, hospitals, and schools destroyed in Israeli airstrikes.

The U.N. and aid organizations have condemned Israel’s near-total blockade of humanitarian assistance since March, accusing it of weaponizing food and medicine. Israel maintains that Hamas intercepts aid shipments and denies the severity of the famine-like conditions. However, desperate scenes of civilians scrambling for limited food in central Gaza underscore the crisis.

On June 1, over 20 Palestinians were reportedly shot dead by Israeli forces while waiting for aid. Similar incidents on June 4 claimed at least 27 lives. Israel stated its troops fired warning shots at individuals who strayed from distribution routes.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.- and Israeli-backed initiative to control aid delivery, was suspended this week after violent chaos at distribution points.

The U.N. has called for an independent investigation into recent aid-related deaths, emphasizing the need for safe and lawful humanitarian access. Meanwhile, international pressure mounts on the U.S. and Israel as the global community urges an end to the war and unrestricted aid flow to civilians trapped in Gaza.