The U.S. was the lone veto Thursday on a U.N. Security Council resolution recommending Palestine’s full membership at the U.N. The U.K. and Switzerland abstained. All 12 other nation members voted in favor of Palestinian membership. Palestine is currently a nonmember observer. Riyad Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to the U.N., said the result will translate to a greater loss of life in Gaza. He spoke after the vote.

Riyad Mansour: “Our right to self-determination has never once been subject to bargaining or negotiation. Our right to self-determination is a natural right, a historic right, a legal right, a right to live in our homeland, Palestine, as an independent state that is free and that is sovereign.”