The United States has vetoed an Arab-backed United Nations resolution that demanded an immediate humanitarian cease-fire to the Israel-Hamas war in the beleaguered Gaza Strip.

Tuesday’s vote in the 15-member Security Council was 13-1 with the United Kingdom choosing to abstain, reflecting the wide global support for ending the months-long war that started with Hamas terrorists’ surprise attacks in southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said they vetoed the resolution because it may interfere with ongoing efforts to arrange a hostage release deal.

This was the third U.S. veto of a Security Council resolution demanding a cease-fire.