On Feb. 20, the United Nations proposed an Arab-backed resolution for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Fourteen of the 15 countries voted on the matter with the United Kingdom abstaining from the vote.

The countries of the UN voted 13-1 for the ceasefire with the US being the only country to veto the proposition.

According to Al Jazeera, for a UN Security Council resolution to be adopted, at least nine votes should be in favor of the ruling with no vetoes by the five permanent members: the US, UK, France, Russia or China, so the ceasefire proposition was not approved.

According to CNN, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield countered by saying the United States understands the desire for urgent action but believes the resolution would negatively impact sensitive negotiations on a hostage deal but would pause fighting for at least six weeks.