The United States on Friday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for the protection of Palestinians, arguing it was "morally bankrupt."
Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., argued that the move would somehow "only serve to undermine ongoing efforts toward peace between the Israelis and Palestinians," CBS News reported.
“It is a grossly one-sided approach that is morally bankrupt," Haley said before the vote on the resolution, which was drafted and put forward by Kuwait.
Despite the U.S. decision, 10 nations – including Russia and France – of the 15-member body voted in favor of the resolution. Four others abstained from voting. While the U.S. was the only nation to vote against, its veto power means the resolution did not pass.
All five permanent members of the U.N. council hold veto power, meaning China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom can also make similar moves against resolutions they dislike.
Responding to the U.S. refusal to support the protection of her people, Palestinian Liberation Organization executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi criticized the "blind loyalty" of the U.S. to Israel.
"[The US has] tried to absolve it of any wrongdoing despite its egregious violations, deliberate massacres and willful killings and war crimes," Ashrawi said, according to Al Jazeera.
"With its veto, the United States is once again attempting to justify the lawlessness and cruelty of Israel’s military occupation, while providing Israel with legal and political cover to pursue its assault on the Palestinian people and on international law and international humanitarian law."
>Israel has killed more than 120 Palestinians and wounded thousands more since Palestinians in Gaza launched the Great March of Return protests on March 30. On Friday, Razan Al-Najar, an 21-year-old volunteer medic attending the wounded became one of the latest victims to be shot and killed by Israeli forces.