A senior United States official has said that the country will veto a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza if it is brought to a vote in its current form, accusing council members of cynically rejecting attempts at reaching a compromise, Reuters reports.

The American official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, said the US would only support a resolution that explicitly calls for the immediate release of hostages as part of a ceasefire.

“As we stated many times before, we just can’t support an unconditional ceasefire that does not call for the immediate release of hostages,” the official said.

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