US vetoes UN Security Council resolution calling for Israel to implement cease-fire

The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution proposed by Algeria on Tuesday that called on Israel to implement a cease-fire against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, criticizing the measure as “wishful” and “irresponsible.”

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said the U.S. is circulating an alternative text that calls for a temporary cease-fire and the release of more than 100 Israeli hostages held by Hamas. 

“For weeks, we have made it incredibly clear that the resolution before the council would not achieve the goal of a sustainable peace and may in fact run counter to it,” Thomas-Greenfield said, explaining her veto of the resolution.

“Proceeding with a vote today was wishful and irresponsible. And so while we cannot support a resolution that would put sensitive negotiations in jeopardy, we look forward to engaging on a text that we believe will address so many of the concerns we all share, a text that can and should be adopted by the council so that we can have a temporary ceasefire as soon as practical, based on the formula of all hostages being released,” she said.