The U.S. on Wednesday voted against a United Nations Security Council resolution that demanded an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, citing the lack of a path for releasing hostages held by Hamas as the reason.
The U.S. was the only nation in the 15-member Security Council to vote against the resolution but was able to veto it because of permanent member status.
Robert Wood, the U.S. alternate representative for special political affairs at the U.N., said after the vote that the resolution would have vindicated Hamas, and he called attention to the roughly 100 hostages still held by the Palestinian militant group.
“We will not forget them,” he said.
Wood added that the U.S. “will continue to pursue a diplomatic solution that brings peace, security and freedom to Palestinians in Gaza,” and faulted Hamas for abandoning a cease-fire and hostage release deal with Israel.
“Some members of this council don’t seem to want to confront the reality that today, it is not Israel standing in the way of a cease-fire and hostage release deal, it is Hamas,” he said, accusing some council members of failing to reach a consensus on a more favorable resolution.
The proposal, put forward by the Security Council’s 10 elected members — a coalition led currently by Guyana — called for an immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
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