The United States exercised its veto power on Thursday to block a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages. Fourteen other countries voted in favor of the resolution.

The draft resolution, proposed by the council’s 10 elected members representing every region of the world, called for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza to be respected by all parties. It also demanded the release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, and required Israel to lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza’s 2.1 million Palestinians.

U.S. Representative Morgan Ortagus defended the veto before the vote, stating that “US opposition to this resolution will come as no surprise”. She argued that the resolution “fails to condemn Hamas or recognize Israel’s right to defend itself, and it wrongly legitimizes the false narratives benefiting Hamas.”

“This resolution also refuses to acknowledge and seeks to return to a failed system that has allowed Hamas to enrich and strengthen itself at the expense of civilians in need,” she continued.

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began nearly two years ago, nearly 70% of those who have been killed are civilians. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, with 48 still in captivity.

This marks the sixth time the United States has vetoed a Gaza ceasefire resolution since the conflict began, highlighting the growing isolation of both the US and Israel on the world stage. The timing is particularly significant as it comes just days before the annual UN General Assembly, where Gaza is expected to dominate discussions and major US allies are anticipated to support recognition of an independent Palestinian state.

The day before this vote Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Donald Trump has a real estate deal plan for Gaza on his desk. Speaking at an Urban Renewal Summit in Tel Aviv Smotrich made comments about transforming Gaza into what he called a “real estate bonanza.”

“There’s a business plan — listen to me carefully — there’s a business plan set by the most professional people there is and is on President Trump’s table and how this thing turns into a real estate bonanza. I’m not kidding; it pays off,” he said, according to The Associated Press.

“I have started negotiations with the Americans — I say this not jokingly now — because I also demand, we paid a lot of money for this war, so we need to divide how we make a percentage on the land marketing later in Gaza. And now, no kidding, we’ve done the demolition phase, which is always the first phase of urban renewal. Now we need to build; it’s much cheaper.”

Smotrich’s comments appear to reference a detailed proposal that has been circulating within the Trump administration called the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation (GREAT) Trust. This document, reported by The Washington Post in September 2025, outlines a plan to place Gaza under US control for at least a decade.

The GREAT Trust proposal envisions transforming Gaza into a tourism resort and technology hub featuring six to eight “AI-powered smart cities.” The plan would involve the “voluntary” relocation of Gaza’s 2.1 million Palestinians, with those who leave receiving $5,000 cash payments, four years of rent assistance, and food support for one year. The document claims this reconstruction could increase Gaza’s value by $324 billion.

When asked about Smotrich’s claims, a White House official told various news outlets that Trump has long promoted solutions that would help the people of Gaza rebuild, but emphasized that “Hamas must first agree to disarm and give up rule in Gaza.” The State Department declined to provide details on diplomatic conversations, saying “speculation is unhelpful.”

This plan builds on Trump’s controversial February 2025 remarks when he proposed that the United States would “take over” Gaza and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East” after relocating its inhabitants. Trump initially suggested the permanent relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, though he later appeared to back away from some aspects of the plan after facing strong opposition from Arab allies like Egypt and Jordan.

Trump also shared an AI-generated video on his Truth Social platform showing Gaza transformed into a Dubai-style resort city.