US Again Veto Design Resolution Of UN DK Ceasefire, Ambassador Shea: Shouldn't Be Surprising

JAKARTA - The United States diplomat said the draft UN Security Council resolution discussed in Thursday's vote was unacceptable, saying the US stance should come as no surprise.

Uncle Sam's country on Thursday vetoed a draft United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid deliveries to the Palestinian territories.

The draft resolution also demands immediate, dignified, and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups.

Acting US Representative Dorothy Shea called the draft resolution "unacceptable".

"The US opposition to this resolution should not come as a surprise. This resolution is unacceptable because its contents are unacceptable because of what is not stated in it, and cannot be accepted because of the way the submission is," he explained, quoted from the UN News website, Friday, September 18.

"The United States has confirmed," he continued, "we will not support any action that does not condemn Hamas and does not call on Hamas to lay off arms and leave Gaza."

He added that Hamas had rejected various ceasefire proposals, including one proposal submitted at the end of last week that would provide a way to end the conflict and free the remaining hostages.

"We cannot allow the Security Council to reward Hamas' determination," concluded Shea.

"Hamas and other terrorists must not have a future in Gaza. As Foreign Minister (Marco) Rubio said: 'If the fire coal is still on, it will turn on again as fire'," he stressed.

This Veto occurred when the death toll in the Palestinian enclave reached 65 thousand, including more than 400 of them due to hunger and malnutrition, since October 2023.

This draft resolution was sponsored by 10 non-permanent members of the UN DK or E10, which this time consisted of Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.

The council consists in a total of 15 countries, of which five other countries, the United States, Britain, China, France, and Russia are permanent members with veto rights.

The draft resolution received 14 votes agreeing. This is the sixth time the US has filed a veto on the Security Council over the nearly two-year war between Israel and Palestinian militant Hamas.