The US and Israel found themselves at odds on Monday when the UN Security Council approved a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, with the US opting not to intervene.
The US chose not to vote, so Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a trip planned for two of his top advisers to go to the US, according to two Israeli officials.
The US has said no to resolutions asking for a ceasefire before. Last week, it changed its position on Friday when it suggested a ceasefire resolution connected to freeing hostages. The decision failed because Russia and China said no to it. The US chose not to vote on Monday, so the latest resolution passed because the other 14 members of the 15-strong council voted yes.
The US Ambassador to the United Nations named Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the US asked for changes to the latest resolution, but still couldn’t vote yes because they disagreed with some parts of it.
“The ambassador said that a ceasefire could have happened a while ago if Hamas had let go of the hostages. He wants member states and the UNSC to tell Hamas to agree to the deal that is being offered. ”
“She said that if there is a ceasefire, all hostages should be set free. ”
The 10 countries on the Security Council want fighting to stop during Ramadan. They also want hostages to be released right away and for more aid to be sent to Gaza quickly.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said it would be very bad if the resolution is not put into action.
The Security Council just agreed on a resolution for Gaza. It asks for a quick ceasefire and for all hostages to be released right away and without any conditions.
This decision needs to happen. “Guterres said on X, that failure would be really bad. ”
The UN voted on Monday when tensions were increasing over a potential Israeli military operation in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah. The US wants Israel to tell them how they will keep 1. 4 million Palestinians safe as they are expected to attack. The US thinks it would be a bad idea to attack the Palestinians.
Tzachi Hanegbi and Ron Dermer were supposed to go to Washington to talk about Israel’s plans for war and what the US could do to help. But they canceled the trip because of the vote.
John Kirby, who speaks for National Security, said that the US was not happy about Netanyahu canceling the trip.
“We’re upset that they won’t come to Washington, DC, so we can talk about other options instead of sending troops to Rafah. ”
Israel agreed to a deal about prisoners and hostages proposed by the US, as reported by CNN analyst Barak Ravid from recent talks in Doha. The agreement could lead to the freeing of about 700 Palestinian prisoners, including 100 who are serving life sentences for killing Israelis. In return, 40 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would be released.
However, Hamas said there are still other issues that need to be resolved, apart from the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Hamas leader Basem Naeim told CNN that the Israeli and American media were putting pressure on the negotiations.
“He said the negotiations are not just about the prisoner exchange deal for us. ”
Naeim said that Israel has not agreed to any of Hamas’ requests for a full ceasefire, pulling out all of its troops from the Gaza Strip, even if done gradually, and allowing all displaced people to go back to their homes.