The resolution, which Guyana also abstained from voting for, called for an immediate and sustained cease-fire lasting roughly six weeks. It would protect civilians and allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
The calls for cease-fire marked a further toughening of Washington's stance toward Israel. Earlier in the five-month-long war, the U.S. was averse to the word cease-fire and vetoed measures that included calls for an immediate cease-fire.
"The vast majority of this council voted in favor of this resolution, but unfortunately Russia and China decided to exercise its veto," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council.
Before the vote, she said it would be a "historic mistake" for the council not to adopt the resolution.
Russia's ambassador to the U.N., Vassily Nebenzia, also speaking before the vote, called on members not to vote in favor of the resolution.
He said the resolution was "exceedingly politicized" and contained an effective green light for Israel to mount a military operation in Rafah, a city on the southern tip of the Gaza Strip where more than half of its 2.3 million residents have been sheltering in makeshift tents to escape the Israeli assault farther north.
"This would free the hands of Israel and it would result in all of Gaza and its entire population having to face destruction, devastation, or expulsion," Nebenzia told the meeting.
Nebenzia said several non-permanent members of the Security Council had drafted an alternative resolution, which he called a balanced document, and said there was no reason for members not to support it.
China's ambassador to the U.N. said Beijing supported the alternative resolution. But Thomas-Greenfield said that measure fell short.
"In its current form, that text fails to support sensitive diplomacy in the region. Worse ... it could actually give Hamas an excuse to walk away from the deal on the table," the U.S. ambassador said.
