In a move that has drawn increasing international criticism, the United States on Wednesday evening used its veto power in the Security Council to block a draft resolution put forward by the ten non-permanent member states, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and ensuring the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said during the session that “this draft resolution equates Israel with Hamas,” considering that a ceasefire at this stage without an agreement on the release of Israeli hostages “will not lead to peace, but to further escalation.” The United States opposed the resolution alone, while the other council members supported it, with Britain abstaining from the vote.

This U.S. stance comes despite the escalating humanitarian disaster in the region. The Gaza Health Ministry announced on Thursday morning, June 6, that the death toll from the Israeli aggression since October 7, 2023, has reached 54,677 martyrs, including thousands of women and children, in addition to more than 125,530 injuries, amidst a near-total collapse of the healthcare system.

In just the past 24 hours, 70 martyrs and 189 new injuries arrived at hospitals, while other bodies remain under the rubble and in the streets, as ambulance and civil defense teams struggle to reach them due to ongoing shelling and infrastructure collapse.

Since the resumption of military operations on March 18, at least 4,402 martyrs and 13,489 injuries have been added to the toll, reflecting the worsening field situation despite international calls to end the fighting.

The United Nations and relief organizations warn of an imminent humanitarian disaster, especially in the northern part of the region, where food and water supplies are cut off, and residents are forced to risk their lives in desperate attempts to obtain aid, prompting UN Secretary-General António Guterres to state that “it is unacceptable for civilians to be forced to risk their lives for food,” calling for an independent investigation into incidents that occurred during aid distribution and ensuring they are not repeated.