For the first time, the UN Security Council voted in favour of a call for a cease-fire in Gaza, with the US abstaining instead of using its veto, as it has done in the past. Russia and China had also previously blocked the resolution. The text was written by the ten elected members of the council and was proposed by Mozambique’s representative in the chamber. Russia tried to change the text to include the word “permanent,” but the proposal was rejected.
The vote was unanimous, with 14 members of the Security Council voting in favour and the US abstaining. White House Spokesperson, John Kirby stressed that the US abstaining from the vote did not signal a change in policy.
He said, “We have been clear, and we’ve been consistent in our support for a ceasefire as part of a hostage deal. That’s how the hostage deal is structured. We wanted to get to a place where we could support that resolution, but because the final text does not have key language that we think is essential, like a condemnation of Hamas, we could not support it.”
The US decision marks “a clear retreat from the consistent US position in the Security Council since the beginning of the war” and one that “gives Hamas hope that international pressure will allow them to get a ceasefire without releasing our hostages,” the statement says.
Netanyahu Cancels his Trip to US
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had threatened to cancel his planned delegation to Washington should the US not use its veto. The Times of Israel reported that Israel’s Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, cancelled a trip to Washington planned by his top aides, Ron Dermer (one of his top lieutenants) and Tzachi (one of his lieutenants). However, the White House says it has not been notified of any changes to an Israeli delegation’s plans to visit Washington.
John Kirby, a White House spokesman, said that US officials will still meet with Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss the hostages, humanitarian aid, and civilian protection in Rafah. Asked about reports that the second Israeli visit has been cancelled, Kirby said, “We were looking forward to having a discussion (about) alternatives and options to a major ground offensive because we don’t believe that a ground offensive in Rafah is the right course of action.”
The statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office accuses the US of damaging Israel’s war effort and efforts to free the hostages by not blocking a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in the war. It says the US decision “significantly deviates from the consistent position of the US in the Security Council” and “gives Hamas hope” that international pressure will lead to a ceasefire without releasing the hostages.
