Two days after the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories said Israel is committing “genocide” in Gaza, the United States again vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas, and the immediate entry of humanitarian aid on the Strip.

The document, presented by the ten non-permanent members of the Council (Algeria, Denmark, Slovenia, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Somalia), received the support of all permanent members (Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom) with the exception of the United States, which prevented its approval.

The draft also called for opening access to aid, at a time when the Israeli ground invasion of the northern Strip continues to hundreds of forces people to flee and has put hospitals "on the verge of collapse."

The Commission, established by the UN Human Rights Council, based its conclusions on exhaustive investigations into what happened in Gaza from October 7, 2023, to July 31 of this year.

For a draft resolution to be approved by the Council, it needs the favorable vote of at least nine members and none of the permanent members, the United States, Russia, China, The United Kingdom and France vote against it.

The draft also warned of the risk of famine spreading to Deir El-Balah and Khan Yunis provinces by the end of September and “strongly” condemned any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.

The members also expressed “grave concern” that Israel continues to expand its military operation in Gaza, which is resulting in worsening civilian suffering. They called for the offensive to be “immediately reversed” and reaffirmed their rejection of any attempt to effect demographic or territorial changes on the Strip.

United States:Israel Tends to Right to 'Defend Itself'

“The United States' opposition to this resolution will not come as a surprise,” said the US deputy special envoy for the Middle East,who justified the veto because the bill “does not condemn Hamas or recognize Israel's right to defend itself.”

Morgan Ortagus noted that Council members ignored the US's statement that the resolution was “unacceptable,” instead adopting “a theatrical measure designed to provoke a veto that expands the reach of Hamas terrorists and their financiers and supporters, and gives them a lifeline.”