• The US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for an immediate Gaza ceasefire, backed by 14 members.
• The humanitarian situation in Gaza is described as "catastrophic," with aid access severely restricted.
• Repeated condemnation from various nations and groups highlights outrage over the US veto.
• The resolution also demanded the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas.
• Israel's ongoing military actions continue to draw international criticism amid rising civilian casualties.

The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Wednesday that demanded "an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza, as well as unrestricted humanitarian access, despite all 14 other council members voting in favor. US Acting Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, stated that the resolution did not adequately condemn Hamas or call for its disarmament, which she claimed undermined US-led diplomatic efforts and would embolden the militant group, according to Channel News Asia and TRT Global.

The veto comes amidst a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israeli military operations have reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 54,000 Palestinians, with numerous others wounded. The resolution was designed to address urgent humanitarian needs, demanding the lifting of all restrictions on aid, yet US officials argued that it would not have helped ensure Israel's security or the safe release of hostages held by Hamas, according to The New York Times and Al Jazeera.

Reactions to the veto have been swift and condemnatory. UN diplomats and representatives from countries such as China, Pakistan, and Iran criticized the US for what they described as enabling ongoing violence and humanitarian atrocities in Gaza. Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad labeled the veto a "moral stain" on the UN's credibility, while Iranian officials highlighted it as a sign of complicity in Israeli actions, as reported by Africanews and India Times.

Despite the US's objections, calls for increased humanitarian access in Gaza continue to mount, with international aid organizations warning of famine conditions among the population. UN aid officials have urged for an unimpeded flow of assistance, stressing that current efforts are far from sufficient to meet the dire needs of the affected civilians. The controversy surrounding the US veto has intensified the debate on international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians in conflict zones, based on accounts from The Jakarta Post and Dawn.