The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution that demanded an "immediate, unconditional and permanent" ceasefire in Gaza, while Israel continued to pound Gaza and Lebanon.
The 15-member council voted on a resolution put forward by 10 non-permanent members, however, only the US voted against, using its veto as a permanent council member to block it.
Robert Wood, deputy US ambassador to the UN, said Washington had made clear it would only support a resolution that explicitly called for the immediate release of captives held in Gaza as part of a ceasefire.
"A durable end to the war must come with the release of the hostages. These two urgent goals are inextricably linked. This resolution abandoned that necessity, and for that reason, the United States could not support it," he said.
He added that he believed the text in the proposed resolution would have sent a "dangerous message" to Hamas that "there's no need to come back to the negotiating table."
The blocking of the resolution was met with widespread criticism, particularly as Israel’s war on the besieged enclave has killed over 44,000 Palestinians and wounded over 100,000 others since 7 October 2023.
"It is deeply regretted that due to the use of the veto this council has once again failed to uphold its responsibility to maintain international peace and security," Malta's UN Ambassador Vanessa Frazier said after the vote failed.
"It represented the bare minimum of what is needed to begin to address the desperate situation on the ground," she added.
China's UN ambassador, Fu Cong, said each time the United States had exercised its veto to protect Israel, the number of people killed in Gaza had steadily risen.
"How many more people have to die before they wake up from their pretend slumber?" he asked.
"Insistence on setting a precondition for ceasefire is tantamount to giving the green light to continue the war and condoning the continued killing."
Hamas also issued a statement, saying the US was directly responsible" for Israel's "genocidal war" on Gaza.
"Once again, the United States demonstrates that it is a direct partner in the aggression against our people, that it is criminal, kills children and women and destroys civilian life in Gaza" the statement read.
The Palestinian Authority echoed the comments, saying the move "emboldens Israel to continue its crimes".
Scores killed in north Gaza
Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on north Gaza’s Beit Lahia killed at least 66 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in the early hours of Thursday.
At least 100 others were wounded in the attack, reports say.
Israeli forces also targeted other parts of the enclave, killing seven in western Khan Younis, two in Gaza City and several in Al-Mawasi.
In Lebanon, an Israeli attack that targeted the town of Maarakeh, located near Tyre, killed five people, the country's National News Agency reported.
A statement from the news agency added that at least 23 people were wounded in the attack.
Lebanon’s ministry of health said that at least 14 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in the last 24 hours.
The continued aggression coincides with US Special envoy Amos Hochstein arriving in Israel, following meetings with Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri about a proposal for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed 43,985 Palestinians and wounded 104,092 since October 7, 2023. The war has plunged the Strip into a deep humanitarian crisis and levelled entire neighbourhoods.