The United States has exercised its veto power at the United Nations Security Council, rejecting a resolution that called for an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza.

The resolution received support from all 14 other council members, highlighting a significant division within the international community regarding the ongoing conflict.

The vetoed resolution characterized the situation in Gaza as "catastrophic" and demanded the "immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its safe and unhindered distribution at scale, including by the UN and humanitarian partners." This marks the fifth occasion on which the US has vetoed a ceasefire resolution at the Security Council, a move seen as an effort to protect Israeli interests.

During a previous veto of a similar resolution in November, the Biden administration cited the lack of direct linkage between the ceasefire demand and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas as a reason for its disapproval.

The latest resolution was co-sponsored by Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.

Members such as Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom also voted in favor of the resolution.

France’s ambassador to the UN, Jerome Bonnafont, expressed disappointment over the veto, stating, "The council was prevented from shouldering its responsibility, despite the fact that most of us seem to be converging on one view."

Following the veto, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement emphasizing that the US would not support any resolution that creates a "false equivalence" between Israel and Hamas, while reaffirming Israel’s right to defend itself.

In response to the veto, Israeli officials expressed their gratitude, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar thanking the US government for supporting Israel and deeming the proposed resolution as one-sided.

Conversely, the UK supported the resolution, with Ambassador Barbara Woodward labeling Israel's new aid system as "inhumane" and calling for an immediate end to restrictions on humanitarian aid.

Woodward characterized the actions of the Israeli government as unjustifiable and disproportionate, urging for accountability regarding the ongoing situation in Gaza.

Members of the Security Council criticized the US, with Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN describing the failed resolution as a "moral stain on the conscience of this council" and a potentially lasting political setback.

China’s Ambassador, Fu Cong, remarked that the result of the vote laid bare the repeated obstruction by the US as a significant roadblock to resolving the conflict.

The resolution was put to vote amidst warnings from the UN and humanitarian organizations about potential famine conditions in Gaza.

The precarious circumstances have been exacerbated by both the prolonged embargo on aid and the problematic implementation of a US- and Israeli-supported initiative known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Concerns about the humanitarian crisis continue to mount.

UN relief chief Tom Fletcher highlighted the dire situation, stating that the world is witnessing horrific scenes of Palestinians suffering amid the conflict.

The GHF, which has unclear political backing and funding, reported that its distribution centers in Gaza would remain closed for a second consecutive day following incidents involving Israeli fire, which resulted in the deaths of at least 27 individuals and injuries to hundreds as they awaited food at a GHF distribution point.

Woodward reiterated the need for an independent investigation into incidents of violence and for those responsible to be held accountable, insisting that Israel must lift its restrictions on aid to facilitate the UN and humanitarian efforts aimed at saving lives and alleviating suffering.