Israel Cancels Meeting in Washington Following UN Ceasefire Resolution
Israel has cancelled a scheduled meeting in Washington following the United States declined to veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution, which also demanded the release of all hostages, comes following several failed attempts to implement similar measures since the attacks on October 7. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the US of abandoning its previous policy.
The refusal to veto the resolution has sparked a heated dispute between Israel and the US, amid international calls for urgent action to avert a famine in Gaza. The US has previously used its veto power to block three Security Council resolutions calling for pauses in the fighting or a ceasefire, and both Russia and China have vetoed two resolutions each.
The abstention by the US on a resolution earlier this week that called for an immediate ceasefire for the rest of the month of Ramadan and the release of all hostages has further fueled the tensions. Despite objections from Netanyahu, the resolution passed with the support of the 14 other members of the Security Council, including the UK.
Netanyahu’s office issued a statement in response to the vote, expressing concern that the resolution did not make the call for a ceasefire contingent on the release of hostages. Israel believes that Hamas and its allies are still holding approximately 130 hostages in Gaza, including 33 presumed dead. The statement emphasized that due to the change in the US position, the planned visit of an Israeli delegation to Washington this week would not proceed as scheduled.
The meeting between Israeli and US officials was intended to discuss Israel’s planned offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where 1.5 million Palestinians have sought shelter following fleeing the fighting in other parts of Gaza. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has publicly expressed the view that a ground operation in Rafah would lead to further civilian casualties and is not the solution to defeating Hamas.
The Israeli decision to cancel the meeting has been met with disappointment by the US National Security Council. However, meetings between Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will proceed as planned. The cancellation of the meeting has also drawn criticism from Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader and former prime minister, who described it as unnecessary and irresponsible. He emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue and resolving conflicts through diplomatic channels.
While UN Security Council resolutions are generally considered legally binding on member states, the US has stated that it does not consider the resolution passed on Monday to be binding on Israel. Gallant has made it clear that Israel will not stop the war in Gaza as long as hostages are still being held. The hostages were captured during Hamas’ attack on southern Israel in October, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
The resolution passed on Monday reflects growing concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Blinken has warned that the entire population of Gaza is experiencing severe levels of acute food insecurity. The UN World Food Programme has also issued a warning, stating that famine is expected to occur in Gaza’s two northern governorates by May unless there is an increase in the flow of aid into the territory.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized the importance of implementing the resolution, stating that failure to do so would be unforgivable. In response to the dire situation in Gaza, the British government has conducted its first airdrop of food into