China disappointed over US veto on Israel-Hamas ceasefire vote, Xinhua reports

China expressed "strong disappointment" over the United States blocking a draft United Nations Security Council resolution on the Israel-Hamas war calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, Xinhua reported on Wednesday, citing China's permanent representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun.

The United States on Tuesday vetoed for the third time a draft United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution, blocking a demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire as it instead pushes the 15-member body to call for a temporary ceasefire linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas. "China expresses its strong disappointment at and dissatisfaction with the U.S. veto," Xinhua reported Zhang Jun as saying.

"The U.S. veto sends a wrong message, pushing the situation in Gaza into a more dangerous one," Zhang said, adding that objection to ceasefire in Gaza is "nothing different from giving the green light to the continued slaughter".