US Vetoes UNSC Resolution that Rejected Trump’s Decision on Al-Quds

The remaining 14 council members voted in favor of the Egyptian-drafted resolution, which did not specifically mention the United States or Trump but which expressed "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of al-Quds."

The draft also affirmed "that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of al-Quds have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council."

Recently, Trump recognised al-Quds as the capital city of the usurper Israeli regime, generating outrage from Palestinians and other parts of the world while raising concern among Washington's western allies. Trump also defiantly plans to move the US embassy to al-Quds from Tel Aviv.

"In the wake of the decision of the United States ... the situation has become more tense with an increase in incidents, notably rockets fired from Gaza and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces," UN Middle East peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov told the Security Council ahead of the vote.

He was briefing the council on the implementation of a resolution adopted in December 2016 that demanded an end to Israeli settlement building. Mladenov said that "no such steps" had been taken by the Israeli regime.