WASHINGTON — The United States vetoed on Tuesday an Arab-backed UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip that the Biden administration said could undermine negotiations to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
The Algerian-drafted resolution called for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties.” The text also demanded the release of all hostages and opposed the “forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population.”
The resolution was backed by 13 of the council’s 15 members. The United States, which holds veto power as a permanent member, voted against the resolution and the United Kingdom abstained.
The vote Tuesday came as Israel prepares to launch an offensive on Gaza’s crowded border city of Rafah, where an estimated 1.4 million people — more than half the territory’s population — have sought shelter after four months of war.
The Biden administration has resisted calls for a permanent truce, saying Israel has a right to defend itself against the militants who killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 others on Oct. 7. It has twice vetoed council resolutions calling for a cease-fire.
Before the vote, the American delegation circulated a rival resolution that called for a “temporary cease-fire in Gaza” and warned Israel against launching a ground offensive in Rafah under the current conditions. The resolution marked the first time the United States had proposed a “cease-fire” at the council.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
