Israeli PM Netanyahu lauds US decision to veto UN cease-fire resolution

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the United States’ decision to veto a proposed United Nations resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israel and Hamas war. 

In a video statement on Saturday, Netanyahu — speaking in Hebrew — called the U.S.’s stance on the matter “correct,” saying that “other countries too need to understand that it is impossible to support the elimination of Hamas on one hand, and on the other hand call for the halting of the war, which would prevent the elimination of Hamas.”

“Israel will continue our justified war aimed at eliminating Hamas and at achieving the rest of the war goals that we have set,” Netanyahu said in his statement, according to the Times of Israel. 

The United States used its veto power within the UN Security Council to block a proposed resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire. The resolution would have required Israel to halt its war with militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Friday.

Thirteen members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution, as the United Kingdom declined to vote on the resolution. 

In remarks to the Security Council on the matter, Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs Robert Wood said the reason the U.S. opposed the drafted resolution is due to the text being “divorced from reality.” 

“We still cannot comprehend why the resolution’s authors declined to include language condemning Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack on Israel on October 7,” Wood said, also adding that other recommended provisions raised by the U.S. were ignored. 

This comes as pressure has increased on Israel over its military operation against Hamas in the militant-governed territory, which has resulted in an immense humanitarian toll, as over 17,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres recently invoked Article 99 of the United Nations Charter on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The move was made to raise the alarm to the Security Council of a matter that threatens international peace and security.