A United Nations Security Council resolution to demand a ceasefire in Gaza has failed because it was vetoed by the US.
Of the 15 member council 13 voted to back the call but the US blocked it and the UK abstained.
After the vote, US deputy ambassador Robert Wood criticized the council after the vote for its failure to condemn Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel, and for failing to acknowledge Israel’s right to defend itself.
He declared that halting military action would allow Hamas to continue to rule and “only plant the seeds for the next war.”
UN Secretary-general, Antonio Guterres warned that Gaza was at “breaking point” and desperate people are at serious risk of starvation.
He added the UN believes it will result in “a complete breakdown of public order and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt”.
An emergency meeting of the council was called after Mr Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter for the first time since 1971.
Article 99 allows the secretary-general to “bring any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security”.
However, the US had made clear it was against a ceasefire in the region, warning it would leave Hamas in charge of the territory still holding more than 100 hostages.
Deputy ambassador Robert Wood said the US does not believe it would lead to “durable peace, in which both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security” because Hamas would remain in charge.
He said a ceasefire would “plant the seeds for the next war… because Hamas has no desire to see durable peace, to see a two-state solution”.
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