Well, we can read what the U.S representative said the UN:

The US engaged in good faith on the text, said Deputy Permanent Representative Robert A. Wood, that would increase opportunities for hostage release and more aid to reach Gaza.

“Unfortunately, nearly all of our recommendations were ignored” leading to an “imbalanced resolution that was divorced from reality that would not move the needle forward on the ground in any concrete way. And so, we regretfully could not support it."

He said the US still could not understand why the resolution’s authors declined to include language condemning “Hamas’s horrific terrorist attack” on Israel, of 7 October.

It killed people from a range of nationalities, subjecting many to “obscene sexual violence.”

He said he had explained earlier in the day why an unconditional ceasefire would simply be “dangerous” and leave Hamas in place, able to attack again.

It was “a recipe for disaster for Israel, for Palestinians and for the entire region”.

Any ceasefire leaving Hamas in control would also deny Palestinians the chance to build something better for themselves, he added.

Moreover, the reasoning suggested in the OP that "the more the war in Gaza endures, the more there is a chance a regional war could break out" is not so obvious as it seems. Alternative view could say that if Israel stops now, the chances for WW3 would increase dramatically — it won't happen tomorrow, but probably in 2-3 years. As it would increase the likelihood that other factors would also try like Hamas to exterminate the Jews. In order to avoid war, U.S should show they are ready for war and are not afraid of it.

Answer from discipulus on Stack Exchange
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UN News
news.un.org › en › story › 2024 › 11 › 1157216
United States vetoes Gaza ceasefire resolution at Security Council | UN News
November 20, 2024 - For a resolution to be adopted, it must secure at least nine votes in favour, and no negative votes – or vetoes – by any of the five permanent members. Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has the primary responsibility to uphold international peace and security. The US representative Ambassador Robert Wood said in his statement that the US could not support an unconditional ceasefire unless it was tied to releasing the hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas and other militants.
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United Nations
press.un.org › en › 2024 › ga12586.doc.htm
Veto of Security Council Resolution Calling for Ceasefire in Gaza Emboldens Israel to Continue Crimes against Palestinian People, Speakers Tell General Assembly | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases
The use of the Security Council veto by the United States to block an Algerian draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza only emboldens Israel to continue its crimes against the Palestinian people, speakers warned the General Assembly today, stressing that the humanitarian situation in the enclave is catastrophic and worsening as a result.
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BBC
bbc.com › news › articles › ce3yj41083no
Israel-Gaza: US vetoes UN call for ceasefire for sixth time
September 19, 2025 - The US has for the sixth time vetoed a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council that would have demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus said the text did not go far enough in condemning Hamas or recognise Israel's right to defend itself.
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43

Well, we can read what the U.S representative said the UN:

The US engaged in good faith on the text, said Deputy Permanent Representative Robert A. Wood, that would increase opportunities for hostage release and more aid to reach Gaza.

“Unfortunately, nearly all of our recommendations were ignored” leading to an “imbalanced resolution that was divorced from reality that would not move the needle forward on the ground in any concrete way. And so, we regretfully could not support it."

He said the US still could not understand why the resolution’s authors declined to include language condemning “Hamas’s horrific terrorist attack” on Israel, of 7 October.

It killed people from a range of nationalities, subjecting many to “obscene sexual violence.”

He said he had explained earlier in the day why an unconditional ceasefire would simply be “dangerous” and leave Hamas in place, able to attack again.

It was “a recipe for disaster for Israel, for Palestinians and for the entire region”.

Any ceasefire leaving Hamas in control would also deny Palestinians the chance to build something better for themselves, he added.

Moreover, the reasoning suggested in the OP that "the more the war in Gaza endures, the more there is a chance a regional war could break out" is not so obvious as it seems. Alternative view could say that if Israel stops now, the chances for WW3 would increase dramatically — it won't happen tomorrow, but probably in 2-3 years. As it would increase the likelihood that other factors would also try like Hamas to exterminate the Jews. In order to avoid war, U.S should show they are ready for war and are not afraid of it.

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Since the Q suggests WW3 and what not, I'll just add this bit from a Nov 14 presser of the Pentagon.

Deterrence in the Middle East is working, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said today.

And yeah, the US says that's because they are striking back.

“Is deterrence working? We feel that it is," said Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh. "We have not seen this war spread into a wider regional conflict. The strikes that we are taking is to signal and to message very strongly to Iran and their affiliated groups to stop. That is the purpose of those strikes.”

"I think we are being very deliberate on how and when we conduct our strikes against these groups," she said. "And I think that Iran is certainly seeing that message.”

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AP News
apnews.com › article › un-gaza-resolution-veto-hamas-israel-hostages-b5281432fc2acdc1860adb3015392c0b
US vetoes UN resolution demanding a cease-fire in Gaza because there's no link to a hostage release | AP News
November 20, 2024 - The United States vetoed a U.N. resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the war in Gaza because it is not linked to an immediate release of hostages.
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Amnesty International
amnesty.org › latest › news › 2025 › 09 › us sixth veto of ceasefire resolution greenlight for israels campaign of annihilation in gaza
Israel/OPT: US sixth veto of resolution on ceasefire, hostage release is a greenlight for Israel’s campaign of annihilation in Gaza
September 22, 2025 - “For the sixth time, the United States has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution aimed at ending the unbearable suffering of over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza struggling to survive Israel’s genocide that has been cruelly unfolding, before the world’s eyes. It is morally reprehensible that instead of using its leverage to halt the endless catalogue of horrors, the USA has – yet again – abused its veto rights to effectively further greenlight Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
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BBC
bbc.com › news › articles › cjr4p9rg8zlo
Israel-Gaza war: US blocks Security Council ceasefire resolution
November 21, 2024 - Deputy US ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, said the document "abandoned" the necessity for there to be "a linkage between a ceasefire and the release of hostages". Critics of the veto sharply rebuked the US, with France saying it "deeply regretted" the move.
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Middle East Journal
mideastjournal.org › post › what-is-the-un-security-council-resolution-for-a-gaza-ceasefire-and-why-did-the-us-veto-it
Why Did The US Veto the UN Resolution For A Gaza Ceasefire?
December 5, 2024 - The US veto prevents the UN resolution from being enacted, which would see an end to the fighting as a first step to ... The UN resolution “abandoned” the necessity to call for the “inextricably linked” end to the war with the release ...
Find elsewhere
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Al Jazeera
aljazeera.com › news › israel-palestine conflict
‘Not enough’: Why the US did not veto a Gaza ceasefire resolution at the UN | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera
That streak ended on Monday, when the administration of President Joe Biden decided not to veto the latest ceasefire resolution, allowing it to pass by abstaining from the vote instead. ... The US move garnered widespread attention as a sign of Biden’s growing frustration with Israeli leadership, which is pressing on with its deadly military campaign in Gaza.
Published   March 25, 2024
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TIME
time.com › world › israel-hamas war
Why Biden Offered a UN Ceasefire Resolution That Got Vetoed | TIME
March 22, 2024 - At the UN on Friday, Russian Ambassador ... to "demand a ceasefire." The US resolution was "deliberately misleading" and designed to throw "a bone" to American voters demanding Biden call for a ceasefire. It did not....
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BBC
bbc.com › news › world-us-canada-68346027
US vetoes call for immediate Gaza ceasefire at UN
February 20, 2024 - The draft resolution proposed by the US calls for a temporary ceasefire "as soon as practicable" and on the condition that all hostages are released, as well as urging barriers on aid reaching Gaza to be lifted. However, it is unclear if or when the Security Council will vote on the form of words proposed by Washington. After the US vetoed Algeria's ceasefire resolution, the north African nation's envoy to the UN said it "would have sent a strong message to Palestinians" and declared that "unfortunately the Security Council failed once again."
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The Guardian
theguardian.com › world › 2024 › mar › 22 › us-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-explainer
What did US Gaza ceasefire resolution say and why did Russia and China veto it? | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian
March 22, 2024 - It thereby supported “diplomatic efforts to secure such a ceasefire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages”. The US’s critics, including Russia, noted the text did not explicitly use the word “call” in terms of a ceasefire. It also implied the ceasefire would be conditional on the release of all hostages. The text marked an important tonal shift for the US, since previously the US had called for a ceasefire as soon as practicable, but the change was not as substantive as some headlines suggest. US resolution on Gaza ceasefire vetoed at UN by Russia and China
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Middle East Monitor
middleeastmonitor.com › 20240408-why-didnt-the-us-use-its-veto-against-the-un-security-council-ceasefire-resolution
Why didn’t the US use its veto against the UN Security Council ceasefire resolution?
April 4, 2024 - It is sufficient to point out, though, that the Security Council failed in all previous attempts but one to agree on a resolution due to the US veto; on that odd occasion, it failed because of a joint Russia-China veto. UN Security Council demands immediate ceasefire in Gaza- Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]The most important changes that made the US not use its veto to block Resolution 2728 are represented by several factors, the most important of which is popular pressure in most Western countries opposed to the ceasefire.
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The Guardian
theguardian.com › world › 2024 › nov › 20 › un-gaza-vote-veto
US vetoes UN security council push to call for ceasefire in Gaza | United Nations | The Guardian
November 20, 2024 - The resolution demanded “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in the war between Israel and the Palestinian group, along with “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages”. The UN security council voted 14-1 in favor of the resolution sponsored by the 10 elected members on the 15-member council, but it was not adopted because of the US veto.
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Reuters
reuters.com › world › middle-east › us-will-veto-un-security-council-resolution-gaza-war-its-current-form-says-2024-11-20
US vetoes UN Security Council resolution on Gaza ceasefire | Reuters
November 21, 2024 - Nov 20 (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, drawing criticism of the Biden administration for once again blocking international action aimed at halting Israel's war with Hamas.
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Quora
quora.com › Why-did-the-USA-veto-a-UN-resolution-for-a-ceasefire-in-the-Gaza-War
Why did the USA veto a UN resolution for a ceasefire in the Gaza War? - Quora
Answer (1 of 125): > Why is the U.S. vetoing the U.N.’s call for a cease-fire in Gaza (12/8/23)? What is the ‘wisdom’, if any? The same reason you should take all antibiotics until complete. See, you have to understand the word “perfidy”—and how it applies to war.
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WHYY
whyy.org › articles › ceasefire-gaza-resolution-us-calls-vote-un
Israel-Gaza war: Russia, China veto U.S. ceasefire resolution - WHYY
March 22, 2024 - Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution in late October calling for pauses in the fighting to deliver aid, protection of civilians, and a halt to arming Hamas. They said it didn’t reflect global calls for a cease-fire.
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United States Mission to the United Nations
usun.usmission.gov › home › statement at the general assembly debate on china’s and russia’s vetoes of the u.s. security council resolution on gaza
Statement at the General Assembly Debate on China’s and Russia’s Vetoes of the U.S. Security Council Resolution on Gaza - United States Mission to the United Nations
May 5, 2025 - Colleagues, Russia and China also vetoed because they did not want to vote for a resolution penned by the United States. Even after inclusive consultations over weeks and weeks. They claim we don’t support a ceasefire. That is not true.
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AP News
apnews.com › article › united-nations-us-vote-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-f6453803b3eacc9fbaa2ce5a025e2a94
Russia and China veto US resolution calling for immediate cease-fire in Gaza
March 22, 2024 - Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution in late October calling for pauses in the fighting to deliver aid, protection of civilians and a halt to arming Hamas. They said it did not reflect global calls for a cease-fire.