It was the sixth time the U.S. had cast a veto in the Security Council over the nearly two-year war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas. US SHIELDS ISRAELThe United States traditionally shields its ally Israel at the United Nations. The U.N. Security Council is also due to hold a high-level meeting on Gaza on Tuesday while world leaders are in New York. An October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza. More than 64,000 people, also mostly civilians, have since been killed during the war in Gaza, according to local health authorities.