US Vetoes UN Security Council Vote on Gaza Cease-fire

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield had said the United States would use its Security Council veto power to block the resolution, which she said could hurt mediation efforts.
Ahead of the vote, the U.S. circulated its own draft resolution to council members. Seen by VOA, it places emphasis on the release of the hostages held by Hamas and notes the “urgent need for a viable plan” to protect civilians from an Israeli offensive in Rafah, reports VOA.
The U.S. proposal “underscores that such a major ground offensive should not proceed under current circumstances” and “rejects any other effort at forced displacement of the civilian population in Gaza.”
The U.S. has no timeline to put its resolution before the council. A senior administration official said the U.S. would give time for the council to negotiate on the text and had no plans to call for an imminent vote.
Weeks of negotiations involving the United States, Egypt and Qatar have failed to produce a deal to halt the fighting in Gaza and secure the release of the hostages.
Israel has warned it plans to carry out an offensive in Rafah, the area of southern Gaza along the Egyptian border where 1.5 million Palestinian civilians have sought safety.
Israeli officials have a Rafah operation is necessary to target Hamas members there. The officials have also mentioned evacuations of civilians without providing any detailed plans.
United Nations officials have repeatedly said no place is safe for civilians to go in Gaza.
Egypt objects to the evacuation of Palestinians into its territory, saying it would amount to their forced displacement. Israel denies that is its intention.
Satellite images show that Egypt has started building a high security buffer zone near the border with Gaza in case of a mass exodus.
The World Health Organization said Tuesday it led an evacuation of 32 critically ill patients from the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis “amid ongoing hostilities and access restrictions.”
The WHO said hospital staff requested the transfers after an Israeli military raid last week left the facility “non-functional.”
“The dismantling and degradation of the Nasser Medical Complex is a massive blow to Gaza’s health system. Facilities in the south are already operating well beyond maximum capacity and are barely able to receive more patients,” the WHO said in a statement. “WHO repeats its calls for the protection of patients, health workers, health infrastructure, and civilians. Hospitals must not be militarized, misused, or attacked.”
Israel began its military campaign to eliminate Hamas after the group’s fighters crossed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people according to Israeli tallies and taking about 250 others hostage. Hamas, designated a terror group by the U.S., the U.K. and EU, is believed to still be holding about 130 hostages in Gaza, including 30 who are believed to be dead.
Israel released video Monday of what it believes is hostage Shiri Bibas and her two young boys, Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months, being led along a dirt street in Khan Younis shortly after their Oct. 7 abduction. Their father, Yarden Bibas, is also still held hostage.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the military’s chief spokesperson, said the army found the videos in security cameras seized during its offensive in Khan Younis.
Israel’s military campaign has killed 29,195 Palestinians and injured 69,170 others, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.