The Biden administration has rejected a UN Security Council resolution critical of Israel, arguing that it would embolden Hamas.

On Wednesday, the Biden administration vetoed a draft resolution against Israel at the United Nations Security Council, following growing calls from members of Congress and pro-Israel voices.

The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution with a 14-1 vote, but it was not adopted due to a U.S. veto.

Robert A. Wood, the U.S. Ambassador, criticized the proposed resolution that supported Hamas, a terrorist group designated by the U.S., over the release of more than 100 hostages, including seven Americans held by Hamas in Gaza. Wood also accused several council members of seeking a "cynical" outcome and "path of discord."

Some council members wanted the U.S. to veto the resolution, suggesting the states were more interested in inciting conflict than resolving the hostage crisis.

As Ambassador Linda-Thomas-Greenfield's substitute, he stated that the draft's requirement for an "unconditional cease-fire with Hamas implies that this council supports Hamas maintaining control in Gaza. The United States will never endorse this." He characterized the resolution as a means to "empower Hamas."

The frustration of the U.S. ambassador was evident as they repeatedly stated that America had worked for weeks to prevent this outcome and could not support an unconditional cease-fire that did not release hostages.

The resolution, overseen by Algeria, called for an "immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire" on Israel. However, it did not guarantee the release of hostages.

Wood remarked that the resolution would have sent a dangerous message to Hamas, as there is no need to return to the negotiating table. Hamas would have perceived it as a validation of their cynical strategy.

Hamas' bad faith negotiation strategy was highlighted by Wood, who emphasized the need for the international community to remember the hostages from more than 20 member states who have been held for 410 days.

Hamas has consistently rejected every deal that has been presented to them. Some members of this council have publicly ignored the callous intransigence of Hamas and have failed to condemn them.

The proposed resolution did not include any criticism of Hamas, which killed over 1,100 people on October 7, 2023.

Some council members refuse to acknowledge that Hamas, not Israel, is the obstacle to the cease-fire, and they won't admit that Hamas started the war against Israel.

After Wood's speech, France's Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière thanked the sponsors of the draft but expressed regret that it was not adopted today.

The situation in Gaza is dire and deteriorating, with humanitarian law being violated. The only solution is an immediate and permanent cease-fire.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, cautioned that the resolution in question is part of a series of attacks on Israel at the United Nations aimed at weakening the Trump administration and the Republican Congress before they take office.

Cruz stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that he will collaborate with his Republican colleagues and President Trump to reverse these measures, including reassessing our relationship with the U.N. and the Palestinians, drastically reducing aid, imposing sanctions on officials responsible, and countering governments and NGOs promoting or implementing them.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.