by JNS
The delegation was slated to travel to Washington for talks on the looming IDF operation in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Joe Biden in Tel Aviv, Oct. 18, 2023. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90. |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday canceled a high-level delegation to Washington after the Biden administration failed to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in the war against Hamas, the Prime Minister’s Office announced.
After four failed attempts, the Security Council passed its first resolution calling for an immediate halt to the military operation in the Gaza Strip until the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan on April 9.
The resolution, which also called for the release of hostages, was supported by 14 nations, including China and Russia. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield abstained, allowing the measure to pass.
Following Monday’s vote, Jerusalem announced that, “in light of the change in the American position, Prime Minister Netanyahu decided that the delegation will not depart.”
Netanyahu said that the changed U.S. position “hurts the war effort and the effort to release the hostages,” giving Hamas hope that international pressure will bring about a ceasefire without the captives’ release.
The Israeli delegation was slated to travel to Washington this week for talks on the looming Israel Defense Forces operation in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah. It would have included Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi.
The delegation was to discuss the Israeli government’s plans for Rafah, according to Jerusalem, while Washington had said the discussion would focus on alternatives to a military operation in the city.
The final four Hamas battalions with some 3,000 gunmen are concentrated in Rafah. Netanyahu has repeatedly said that all of the Hamas battalions must be defeated to prevent the terrorist organization from regrouping and reestablishing itself to threaten Israel again.
JNS
Source: https://www.jns.org/netanyahu-cancels-delegation-to-us-as-security-council-backs-ceasefire/
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