On Monday, the United Nations Security Council convened to continue discussions on a resolution that calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
So far, several drafts have been vetoed by at least one, but frequently more, of the Security Council's permanent members, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The permanent members are the only ones with the power to veto.
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Most recently, China and Russia vetoed a draft resolution proposed by the US, with Guyana abstaining from voting, and Algeria voting against it.
According to Reuters, the Russian ambassador criticized the earlier resolution as "exceedingly politicized".
In the past, the US has vetoed resolutions calling for a ceasefire, taking issue with the term "ceasefire."
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Monday's draft resolution was introduced by Mozambique.
The Russian ambassador, advocating not just for an immediate but a permanent ceasefire, expressed concern that the current resolution did not call for a permanent ceasefire in its operative paragraph, despite the term being used in an earlier draft.
Russia proposed an amendment to reintroduce the term into the resolution’s operative paragraph, but it did not pass.
Nevertheless, Russia and 13 other states voted in favor of the resolution, with the US abstaining.
As a result of the US not vetoing the resolution, Israel’s President Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly canceled a planned trip to Washington, The Guardian writes.