The UN Security Council adopted on Monday, March 25, a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas (an organization designated as terrorist by the United States) after the United States abstained from voting.
The remaining 14 Council members voted in favor of the resolution proposed 10 states that are members of the UN Security Council. After the vote, there was applause in the Council chamber, reports Reuters.
"This resolution must be implemented. Refusal [to implement it] would be unforgivable,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres wrote on Platform X.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Washington, by refusing to use the veto, “ ;obviously retreated” from its previous position. Netanyahu said he would harm Israel's military campaign and efforts to free more than 130 hostages still held by Hamas.
White House spokesman John Kirby stressed that the UN Security Council vote “does not mean our policy has changed.” .
"Nothing has changed in our policy [toward Israel]. “Nothing,” he added.
After the vote at the UN, Netanyahu canceled the visit to Washington of a government delegation that was supposed to discuss with the White House the military operation planned by Israel in the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, where There are about 1.5 million residents of the enclave.
“The United States is surprised by Israel’s decision [to cancel the visit] and considers it an overreaction,” said a White House official who spoke with journalists on condition of anonymity.
Prepared by: Sergey Daga