The other 14 countries on the council voted in favor of the
draft as a humanitarian crisis grips the enclave of more than 2 million people,
where famine looms and aid has only trickled in since Israel lifted
an 11-week blockade last month.
"The United States has been clear, we would not support
any measure that fails to condemn Hamas and does not call for Hamas to disarm
and leave Gaza," Acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea told the
council before the vote, arguing that it would also undermine US-led efforts to
broker a ceasefire.
Washington
is Israel's biggest ally and arms supplier.
The Security Council vote came as Israel pushes ahead with
an offensive in Gaza after ending a two-month truce in March. Gaza health
authorities said Israeli strikes killed 45 people on Wednesday, while Israel
said a soldier died in fighting.
Britain's UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward criticized the
Israeli government's decisions to expand its military operations in Gaza and
severely restrict humanitarian aid as "unjustifiable, disproportionate and
counterproductive."
Israel
has rejected calls for an unconditional or permanent ceasefire, saying Hamas
cannot stay in Gaza. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told the council
members who voted in favor of the draft: "You chose appeasement and
submission. You chose a road that does not lead to peace. Only to more
terror."
Hamas condemned the US veto, describing it as showing the US
administration's blind bias" towards Israel. The draft Security Council
resolution had also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all
hostages held by Hamas and others.
