Netanyahu cancels delegation’s US visit after ceasefire vote — RT World News
A high-level delegation is scheduled to head to Washington to discuss the planned Israeli military operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that he would now not send a delegation that had been expected in Washington, after the United States earlier that day refrained from vetoing a UN Security Council resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza.
The United Nations Security Council issued a resolution on Monday calling for… “direct” A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza during the holy month of Ramadan, which ends in two weeks. The United States abstained from casting its vote in the Council, while the remaining 14 members voted in favor of the resolution, which also demands the unconditional release of the remaining Israeli hostages and highlights “The urgent need to expand the flow” Aid to Gaza.
Washington's decision not to veto the resolution was a decision “A clear retreat from the firm position of the United States” Since the beginning of the war, Netanyahu's office said, following the UN Security Council vote.
He added, “This withdrawal harms the war effort and efforts to release hostages.” He explained, “Because it gives Hamas hope that international pressure will allow it to accept a ceasefire without releasing our hostages.”
According to the statement, Netanyahu made it clear to the United States on Sunday that he would not send a high-level delegation to discuss the Israeli army’s plans to conduct an operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip without veto power in the UN Security Council.
Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller issued the statement “Sudden and unfortunate.”
Miller said that the United States had concerns about the resolution because it did not condemn the October 7 attack, but did not veto it because its call for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages was consistent with Washington policy, describing the resolution as “Not binding.”
White House spokesman John Kirby also called for canceling the Israeli delegation's visit “disappointing” He said that Washington was “Puzzled by this” Because the United States abstained from voting “It does not represent a shift in our policy.”
Kirby added that the United States continues to support Israel and provides weapons systems and other capabilities for the country to defend itself.
Israel is planning to launch a ground attack on Rafah, despite international warnings of a potential disaster. More than half of Gaza's population has fled to take shelter in the city due to ongoing Israeli bombing of other parts of the Strip.
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