israel-cancels-washington-visit-over-un-gaza-ceasefire-abstention

Israel's cabinet has cancelled a visit to Washington by key officials as a protest and discontentment after the US declined to Veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

 

The Security Council on Monday held an important meeting to vote on the resolution, which called for a cease-fire throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

 

The resolution was passed on the same day, Israel said it conducted military operations against Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza and Al-Amal in the south.

 

According to the health ministry in Gaza 107 individuals had been killed in the past 24 hours, raising the total to 32,333.

 

The United States abstained from the UN Security Council vote, but the remaining 14 members supported the motion, and the resolution drafted was passed immediately, leaving Israel angry.

 

In response, the Israeli prime minister's office said in a statement, “Regrettably, the United States did not veto the new resolution, which calls for a ceasefire that is not contingent on the release of hostages.”

 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled the Israeli delegation's visit to the United States, according to the statement.

 

During the scheduled discussions in Washington, Israeli and US officials were to discuss a Netanyahu-backed proposal for ground operations in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.

 

However, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on X that his country will not comply with the decision.

 

"The state of Israel will not cease fire. We will destroy Hamas and continue to fight until the last of the hostages returns home," Katz stated in a statement

 

Concerned about the safety of the city's 1.5 million residents, the US intended to provide an alternative to Israel's planned ground invasion.

 

However, Netanyahu's war cabinet had stated that “even after the ceasefire agreement was reached Israel will still pursue the Rafah assault.”