Skip to main content
International

US allows UN cease-fire to pass, prompts Israel to cancel trip to DC

This report was created with support from enhanced software.

Media Landscape

See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data
Left 28% Center 41% Right 31%
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News

Tensions between the U.S. and Israel flared on Monday, March 25, as the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, with the United States abstaining from the vote. The move by the U.S. prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a trip to the U.S. by two of his top advisers.

Netanyahu criticized the U.S. decision to abstain from the vote and said that the Israeli delegation was no longer visiting, citing the change in American position and its potential impact on Israeli war efforts against Hamas.

Despite vetoing similar efforts in the past calling for a cease-fire, the U.S. decided not to interject on the most recent vote. However, while the U.S. did allow for the resolution to pass, White House national security adviser John Kirby explained the American position.

QR code for SAN app download

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

“We want to get in a place where we can support the resolution,” Kirby said. “But because the final text does not have key language that we think is essential, like a condemnation of Hamas, we could not support it. Though, because it really does reflect in our view that a ceasefire and the release of hostages come together, we abstained.”

The U.S. had reportedly proposed a resolution on Friday, March 22, that would have allowed for a cease-fire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages. However, the U.S. resolution failed after China and Russia vetoed the proposal.

The U.N. resolution demands a cease-fire for the month of Ramadan, and the unconditional release of Israeli hostages, as well as aid into Gaza. The vote comes amid tensions over a potential Israeli military operation in Rafah. The U.S. has urged Israel to explain how it will protect Palestinians who stay there, warning an invasion would be a mistake.

Kirby expressed disappointment that the Israeli delegation would no longer be visiting Washington and said it was an opportunity to talk about potential operations in Rafah. According to CNN, Israel’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Ron Dermer, a member of the war cabinet, were originally scheduled to visit Washington.

However, separately, Israel has reportedly agreed to a U.S. proposal on a prisoner-hostage exchange deal, which would see the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

TENSIONS BETWEEN THE U-S AND ISRAEL FLARED AS THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, WITH THE U-S ABSTAINING FROM THE VOTE. THE MOVE PROMPTED PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TO CANCEL A TRIP TO THE U-S BY TWO OF HIS TOP ADVISERS.

NETANYAHU CRITICIZED THE U-S MOVE, AND SAID HIS TWO TOP ADVISERS WERE NO LONGER VISITING, CITING A CHANGE IN AMERICAN POSITION AND ITS IMPACT ON WAR EFFORTS AGAINST HAMAS.

THE U-S HAD VETOED SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS IN THE PAST CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE. HOWEVER, WHILE THE U-S DID NOT VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION, IT ALLOWED THE RESOLUTION TO PASS. WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER JOHN KIRBY EXPLAINED THE AMERICAN POSITION.

[JOHN KIRBY]

WE WANT IT TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. BUT BECAUSE THE TEXT DOES NOT HAVE KEY LANGUAGE THAT WE THINK IS ESSENTIAL, LIKE A CONDEMNATION OF HAMAS, WE COULD NOT SUPPORT IT. THOUGH, BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES REFLECT IN OUR VIEW THAT A CEASEFIRE AND THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES COME TOGETHER, WE ABSTAINED.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE RESOLUTION DEMANDS A CEASEFIRE FOR THE MONTH OF RAMADAN, AND THE UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF HOSTAGES, AS WELL AS AID TO GAZA.

THE VOTE COMES AMID TENSIONS OVER A POTENTIAL ISRAELI MILITARY OPERATION IN RAFAH. THE U-S URGED ISRAEL TO EXPLAIN HOW IT WILL PROTECT PALESTINIANS WHO STAY THERE, WARNING AN INVASION WOULD BE A MISTAKE.

[JOHN KIRBY]

WE’RE VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY WON’T BE COMING TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO, TO ALLOW US TO HAVE A FULSOME CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO GOING IN ON THE, ON THE GROUND IN RAFAH.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

MEANWHILE, ISRAEL DID AGREED TO A U-S PROPOSAL ON A PRISONER–HOSTAGE DEAL, WHICH WOULD SEE THE RELEASE OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS IN EXCHANGE FOR ISRAELI HOSTAGES.