25 March 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday he was canceling a Washington visit by his officials in protest at a UN Security Council resolution demanding a Gaza ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday announced that he is canceling the planned visit of a delegation to Washington after the United States refused to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Minutes before the resolution was carried by 14 votes to zero, Netanyahu told to Israeli news media that the visit would not happen if Washington failed to veto it.
Netanyahu described the U.S. decision to abstain as a ‘clear retreat.’
The impasse is the latest twist in diplomatic efforts to ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians caught up in fighting and to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The UN Security Council voted Monday morning on a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during the month of Ramadan, as well as the immediate release of all hostages.
The resolution passed by 14-0 after the United Nations decided to abstain
‘If the US does not veto a resolution for a cease-fire that is not conditional on the release of hostages – I will cancel the delegation’s departure to Washington,’ said Netanyahu earlier, according to Ynet News.
Washington vetoed earlier resolutions that had demanded a ceasefire.
But international pressure is growing to end the Israeli bombardment that has killed 32,000 Palestinians since the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday’s abstention did not represent a change of policy.
‘The reason we abstained is because this resolution text did not condemn Hamas. and we really believe that Hamas should be condemned for what they did on the seventh of October,’ he told reporters.
-agency report
