The United States on Wednesday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, insisting that such a resolution should have also demanded immediate release of Israeli hostages still kept in dire conditions by Hamas.

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The US government advanced arguments that ending the without demanding Hamas to release hostages would embolden the terrorists.

All 14 other members of the council had voted in favor of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory.

But the resolution before the U.N.’s most powerful body also did not condemn Hamas’ deadly attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza.

The US demanded that the clauses be inserted in the resolution for it to sail through.

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The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251. They still hold 58 hostages, two thirds of them believed to be dead.

In a counter-offensive in Gaza where Hamas militants operate, Israel’s military campaign has led to the death of over 54,000 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants.

Palestinian terrorists have a history of playing up sentiments to cover their atrocities like October 7. And since they the terrorists have been using Gazans as human shield against Israeli bullets.

Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea, speaking to the council immediately before the vote, said the resolution would undermine the security of Israel, a close U.S. ally, and diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire “that reflects the realities on the ground.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Hamas has the option to end the Gaza campaign by releasing all hostages in its captivity including the bodies of those that died in their hands.

“Hamas could end this brutal conflict immediately by laying down its arms and releasing all remaining hostages,” he said in a statement.

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon thanked the United States for refusing to abandon the hostages. He said the resolution’s failure to make the release of hostages a condition for a ceasefire would have put all the pressure on Israel and handed Hamas “time, leverage and political cover.”

Since the October 7 attack on Israel, only the United States, Russia, Jordan and Palestinian Authority in West Bank have boldly demanded that Hamas release the Israeli hostages as condition for peace.