US Vetoes UN Security Council Gaza Ceasefire Demand for Sixth Time
New York – September 18, 2025 – The United States on Thursday vetoed a United Nations Security Council draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, marking the sixth time the US has blocked such a measure since the start of the conflict. The vote occurred on the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, highlighting deep divisions within the Council and raising concerns about the organization’s credibility.
The resolution, supported by the vast majority of Council members, demanded an immediate halt to hostilities.However, the US, citing its continued support for Israel’s right to defend itself, cast the sole dissenting vote.
palestinian Permanent Observer to the united Nations, Riyad H. Mansour, expressed dismay following the veto. “The Council remains silent at a grate cost for its credibility and authority,” Mansour added. “This demonstrates that when it comes to atrocity crimes, the use of the veto should simply not be allowed.”
Algerian Ambassador to the UN, Amar Bendjama, delivered a poignant appeal, stating, “Palestinian brothers, Palestinian sisters, forgive us,” adding, “Forgive us because the world speaks of rights, but denies them to Palestinians. Forgive us because our efforts, our sincere efforts, shattered against this wall of rejection.” He detailed the devastating toll of the war, noting that it had killed more than 18,000 children and 12,000 women, and also over 1,400 doctors and nurses, and more than 250 journalists. Bendjama asserted that Israel was “immune” not due to international law, but because of a “bias of the international system.”
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, stated that Israel needed “no justification” for its war on Gaza and thanked the US for exercising its veto.
Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor, James Bays, reporting from New York, described the vote as a “sombre” moment. He noted the contrast between countries championing “multilateral diplomacy” and the US adopting an “America-first view of the world,” further pointing to US cuts in humanitarian funding to the UN, contributing to what he described as one of the lowest points in the organization’s 80-year history.
The veto comes as Israel continues its ground offensive on Gaza City,launched Tuesday,signaling a commitment to crushing Hamas,with no specific timeline provided for the operation,though indications suggest it could last months.
Earlier this week, a team of independent experts commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, with the intent to “destroy” the Palestinians.
Prior to the vote, Danon had posted on X that the resolution woudl “not free the hostages nor bring security,” and reiterated Israel’s commitment to fighting Hamas and protecting its citizens.
danish Ambassador to the UN, Christina Markus Lassen, underscored the severity of the man-made famine in Gaza, stating, “desperate mothers are forced to boil leaves to feed their children, fathers search the rubble for sustenance,” and warned that “people are killed as they try to get food to survive. A generation risks being lost not only to war, but to hunger and despair.”
