Ambassador Robert Wood said it would send a ‘dangerous message’ to Hamas that ’there’s no need to come back to the negotiating table.’
The United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that called for an immediate, unconditional cease-fire in Gaza on Nov. 20.
The 15-member council voted on the resolution proposed by 10 nonpermanent members, including Algeria, Ecuador, and Japan. The United States was the only member to vote against it, using its veto power as a permanent member to block its adoption.
The resolution demanded an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent cease-fire” and separately urged the release of hostages.
Robert Wood, U.S. deputy ambassador to the U.N., said Washington would support a resolution only if it explicitly links a cease-fire to the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas.
“These two urgent goals are inextricably linked,“ he said. ”This resolution abandoned that necessity, and for that reason, the United States could not support it.”
Wood noted that the United States believes that the resolution would send a “dangerous message” to Hamas that “there’s no need to come back to the negotiating table.”
