Netanyahu cancels Israeli delegation to US over UN Gaza vote

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 Israeli news media that the visit would not happen if Washington failed to veto it.

‘In light of the change in the American position, Prime Minister Netanyahu decided the delegation would not leave,’ his office said after the vote, calling the decision a ‘clear retreat’ from its previous stance. 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.

And it highlights how the relationship between the U.S. is breaking down amid the bloodshed in Gaza. American officials have repeatedly said they are worried about Israel ‘s plans to launch a major ground offensive in Rafah, where about half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has found refuge.

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. With Ramadan ending next month, it means the ceasefire would last for just two weeks.

‘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. His objection was that although the resolution called for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, it did not clearly make one contingent on the other.

His National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer were expected to lead the delegation. And they were to present plans for the Rafah offensive along with outlines of how they would protect civilians. 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 the decision to cancel the planned trip was ‘very disappointing.

But he added that 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. He said U.S. officials were still expecting to meet for separate talks with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on hostages, humanitarian aid and protecting civilians in Rafah.

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