Israel Cancels Washington Meeting Over UN Ceasefire Resolution
Israel has scrapped a scheduled meeting in Washington after the United States opted not to veto a UN Security Council resolution endorsing a ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution, also demanding the release of all hostages, comes after multiple failed attempts to enact similar measures following the October 7 attacks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the US for what he perceives as a departure from its previous stance. Meanwhile, intense fighting between Israel and Hamas persists in Gaza.
The UN Security Council’s resolution, the first of its kind, was spurred by urgent calls to prevent a famine in Gaza. Since the conflict’s onset, the US has utilized its veto power to block three resolutions calling for pauses in fighting or ceasefires. Two more resolutions were vetoed jointly by Russia and China.
On Monday, the US abstained from voting on a resolution urging an “immediate” ceasefire throughout the remainder of Ramadan, approximately two weeks, along with the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” With 14 members voting in favor, including the UK, the resolution passed.
Although Washington maintains a firm stance on Israel, it asserts that its abstention does not signify a policy shift. However, Netanyahu contends that the resolution lacks conditions for a ceasefire tied to the release of hostages, as both the US and Israel had advocated.
Israel claims Hamas and its affiliates still hold roughly 130 hostages in Gaza, including 33 presumed deceased. Netanyahu’s office asserted that the resolution grants Hamas hope for international pressure to coerce Israel into accepting a ceasefire without hostage release, thus detrimentally impacting both the war effort and hostage liberation endeavors.
In response to the altered US position, Israel canceled a planned visit by its delegation to Washington this week. The agenda was to discuss Israel’s intended offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza, where approximately 1.5 million Palestinians seek refuge amid the conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly cautioned against a ground operation in Rafah, warning of civilian casualties and emphasizing that such a move is not conducive to defeating Hamas.
Despite these developments, hostilities persist, with Israeli airstrikes continuing in Rafah and fierce gun battles erupting near hospitals in Khan Younis and Gaza City. Rocket sirens also sounded in Israeli border towns.
In reaction to Netanyahu’s decision, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed disappointment, reiterating the US view that a major ground offensive in Rafah would be ill-advised. However, scheduled meetings between Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan remain unaffected.
Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu’s decision, deeming it unnecessary and irresponsible, and highlighting the importance of discretion in international relations.
While UN Security Council resolutions are typically considered binding on member states, the US has indicated it does not view Monday’s vote as obligatory for Israel.
Gallant affirmed that Israel will not cease its Gaza operations while hostages remain in captivity. These hostages were seized during Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties, predominantly civilians.
UN representative Riyad Mansour welcomed the resolution but deemed it overdue, citing the extensive human toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Hamas has embraced the vote but maintains its original demands for a comprehensive ceasefire, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to the northern Strip.
Mediated talks between Israeli and Hamas representatives continue in Qatar, with reports suggesting a proposed deal involving the release of 40 Israeli hostages in exchange for 800 Palestinian prisoners.
editor
So we finally get the truth of the US view of the UN, which the US played a part in its creation on 24th october 1945, hence its permanent seat on the all powerfull Security Council, but, according to John Kirby Biden’s security adviser the Council Ceasefire order is “non binding”, really?
if that was the case then the US posturing over the use of its veto played on various occasions recently was nothing more than just playing games with the world, the latter being duped by this two faced attitude of a senior member of a body, which clearly the US use as a toy, which is now proved by a sudden reversal of Israels decision to reverse its decision not to send a delegation to Washington, who are now suggesting not to obey the ceasefire as demanded by the UN but to come up with a plan B for the threatened ground invasion of Rafah, how anyone could believe anything this pair of double dealers say from now on, would need urgent physiological therapy!