The UN Security Council votes on the draft resolution demanding a ceasefire and aid access in Gaza at UN headquarters in New York, September 18, 2025. /VCG
The United States vetoed on Thursday a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that would have demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and that Israel lift all restrictions on aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave.
The text, drafted by the elected 10 members of the 15-member council, would also have demanded the immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups.
It received 14 votes in favor among the 15-member council. The United States, a permanent member of the council, has veto power.
It was the sixth time the U.S. had cast a veto in the Security Council over the nearly two-year war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas.
China 'very disappointed'
Speaking after the vote, China's permanent representative to the UN Fu Cong said the Chinese side was "very disappointed" at the result, and urged the U.S. to take its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council.
According to Gaza-based health authorities, the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 has surpassed 65,000.
Displaced Palestinians flee northern Gaza by foot and in vehicles, carrying their belongings along the coastal road toward southern Gaza, Palestine, September 15, 2025. /VCG
Fu questioned: How many more innocent lives must be lost before a ceasefire can be achieved in Gaza? How many more tragedies must occur before humanitarian aid can flow unimpeded to the strip? And how much longer must the world wait before the Security Council fulfills its responsibilities?
He stressed that peace cannot be achieved through force, nor can security be secured through violence. He added that the weaponization of humanitarian aid is unacceptable, as are violations of international humanitarian law.
Fu called on Israel to fulfill its obligations as the occupying power under international humanitarian law, lift restrictions on humanitarian access, and support the UN in delivering aid in line with humanitarian principles.
He said it is precisely the United States' obstruction of the Security Council's actions and its persistent shielding of violations of the Council's resolutions that have rendered the body ineffective in addressing the situation in Gaza.
The U.S., as a permanent member of the Security Council, must face up to its responsibilities, support the council in performing its duties effectively, and safeguard the role and authority of the UN rather than doing the opposite, said Fu.
Gaza City and surrounding areas are officially suffering from famine, and it will likely spread, a global hunger monitor determined last month.
"Famine has been confirmed in Gaza – not projected, not declared, confirmed," Denmark's UN Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen told the council before the vote.
"Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its military operation in Gaza City, further deepening the suffering of civilians. As a result, it is this catastrophic situation, this humanitarian and human failure, that has compelled us to act today," she said.
Pakistan's ambassador Asim Ahmad called the U.S. veto a "dark moment in this chamber."
"The world is watching. The cries of children should pierce our hearts," he said.
U.S. shields Israel
The previous U.S. vetoes sparked an unusual show of anger from the 14 other members of the Security Council, who are increasingly vocal in their frustration over apparent inability to pressure Israel to stop the suffering of Gaza's inhabitants.
The U.S. traditionally shields its ally Israel at the United Nations. But in a rare move last week it backed a Security Council statement condemning recent strikes on Qatar, though the text did not mention Israel was responsible.
The move reflected U.S. President Donald Trump's unhappiness with the attack ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the U.S. veto on Thursday showed that just a week later Washington was again staunchly giving diplomatic protection to Israel.
"Hamas is responsible for starting and continuing this war. Israel has accepted proposed terms that would end the war, but Hamas continues to reject them. This war could end today if Hamas freed the hostages and laid down its arms," U.S. diplomat Morgan Ortagus told the council before the vote.
Israel was not happy with the Security Council statement on the strikes on Qatar, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters on Thursday, adding: "But I think, overall, the level of cooperation with the U.S. is so high that we were OK with that."
Danon said that after Netanyahu addresses the annual UN General Assembly gathering of world leaders next week, the prime minister will travel to Washington to meet with Trump on September 29. Netanyahu had said earlier this month that he was invited by Trump to visit the White House.
The UN Security Council is also scheduled to hold a high-level meeting on Gaza on Tuesday while world leaders are in New York.