Israel cancels Washington visit after US allows UN Gaza ceasefire resolution to pass
Tensions between the US and Israel came to a head on Monday when Washington took a different stance and allowed the UN Security Council to pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The US decision to abstain from voting prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a scheduled event. Two Israeli officials said two of their top advisers traveled to the US.
America had earlier also vetoed similar resolutions demanding a ceasefire. Its position evolved last week when on Friday it presented a ceasefire proposal involving the release of hostages.
That proposal fell when Russia and China vetoed it. The US absence from Monday's vote allowed the latest resolution to pass, when the other 14 members of the 15-strong council voted yes. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the latest proposal included edits requested by the US. , Washington could not vote yes because he "did not agree with everything."
"If Hamas had been willing to release the hostages, a ceasefire could have been reached almost months ago," the ambassador said. He demanded from member states and the UNSC that Hamas "accept the agreement on the table."
"Any ceasefire must be accompanied by the release of all hostages,"
They said. The resolution introduced by the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council calls for an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and the "urgent need to expand the flow" of aid. Gaza: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said failure to implement the resolution would be "inexcusable".
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