Israel-Gaza War
Israel states that UN resolution damaged Gaza ceasefire talks
In a recent development that has exposed tensions between the United States and Israel, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution, which was passed with 14 votes in favor and the United States abstaining, has been met with sharp criticism from Israeli officials who claim it has damaged the prospects for ceasefire talks.
The resolution demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. It also emphasizes the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Despite the abstention by the United States, which historically has used its veto power to protect Israel from censure at the UN, the resolution was adopted, leaving Israel feeling isolated on the world stage.
Israeli officials lambasted the resolution, stating that they have no intention of ceasing fire. More than 32,000 people have been killed in Gaza in operations Israel launched after Hamas-led militants attacked the country, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Israel criticized the language of the resolution, saying it doesn’t firmly tie a ceasefire to the freeing of the hostages held in Gaza.
The Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, criticized the Security Council for passing a measure that called for a ceasefire without directly linking it to the release of hostages. "It undermines the efforts to secure their release," Erdan said at the United Nations. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz echoed this sentiment on social media, stating, "The state of Israel will not cease fire. We will destroy Hamas and continue to fight until the last of the hostages returns home."
In response to the UN resolution, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a scheduled trip to the US by two of his top advisers who had been set to discuss alternatives to a planned Israeli offensive in the southern city of Rafah. The meeting had been requested by US President Joe Biden. The cancellation of the visit was seen as a sign of a growing rift between the two close allies.
The United States, for its part, has attempted to clarify its position. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the resolution is non-binding, a sentiment echoed by White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby and US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. However, China’s UN ambassador Zhang Jun countered that such resolutions are indeed binding, and Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq stated that Security Council resolutions are international law.
Despite the US abstention, Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed support for the resolution's objectives, stating, "This resolution further explicitly recognizes the painstaking, non-stop negotiations being conducted by the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Qatar, and the United States to achieve such a release in the context of a ceasefire, which would also create space to surge more lifesaving humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians, and to build something more enduring."
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the importance of implementing the resolution, stating, "This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable."
The resolution has brought to light the complex dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the challenges of negotiating peace. With the ceasefire talks in a delicate state, the international community watches closely to see if the parties can find a path to de-escalation and a sustainable resolution to the conflict. As the holy month of Ramadan continues, the urgency for peace and humanitarian relief in Gaza remains a pressing concern for all involved.