Israel cancelled a meeting of officials in Washington after the US refused to veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages on Monday, the 25th of March, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticising the US for “abandoning” its previous position, reports the British broadcaster BBC.
The spat erupted amid growing concern over the need to avert the famine and intensive fighting between Hamas and Israel in Gaza after repeated failed attempts to tackle the situation since the October attacks.
The US abstained on a resolution calling for an “immediate” ceasefire for the remainder of Ramadan, which will last another two weeks, and “the unconditional release of all hostages”. Despite the US abstention,
the resolution was adopted with the support of 14 other Council members.
Following the UN Security Council vote, Netanyahu objected to the fact that the resolution did not make the ceasefire a condition for the release of the hostages, with Israel claiming that some 130 hostages were still being held by Hamas, including 33 believed to be dead.
“Today’s resolution gives Hamas hope that international pressure will force Israel to agree to a ceasefire without the release of our hostages, thus undermining both the war effort and the efforts to free the hostages,” said a statement from Netanyahu’s office, adding that
“in light of the change in the US stance”, the planned visit of an Israeli delegation to the US this week will not take place.
Israeli and US officials were due to meet to discuss Israel’s planned attack on the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where some 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering from fighting in other parts of Gaza.
In response to Israel’s decision, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed disappointment but maintained the US position that a large-scale ground offensive in Rafah would not be advisable. He confirmed that the planned meetings between Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan would go ahead as planned.
Israeli opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid condemned Netanyahu’s decision, calling it “unnecessary” and “irresponsible”. Lapid stated that while Israel can take defence decisions independently, such action is detrimental to Israel’s security and economy, stressing that disagreements should be resolved behind closed doors.
UN Security Council resolutions are considered legally binding on UN member states, although the US has stated that it does not consider Monday’s vote to be binding on Israel.
The Palestinian representative to the UN, Riyad Mansour, welcomed the resolution but said it came too late.
“It took six months, more than 100 000 Palestinians killed and maimed, two million displaced and famine for this council to finally call for an immediate ceasefire,” he said.
Hamas welcomed the vote but also told mediators that it stood by its initial demands for a total ceasefire that includes the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and the return of displaced Palestinians to the north.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office described this as “unrealistic”.
Negotiations between Israeli and Hamas representatives continue through mediators in Qatar.
Also read: US puts pressure on Israel with Gaza ceasefire resolution
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