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by Mick the Ram
The UN Security Council resolution was passed on Monday 25 March, which demanded an “immediate” ceasefire, as well as the release of all hostages.
This angered the Israelis, as it only got through because the US abstained allowing the motion to pass.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by immediately cancelling a planned meeting in Washington, condemned the US decision not to use its veto, saying it had harmed the war effort and attempts to free the hostages taken by Hamas on 7 October last year.
Hours after the vote, Hamas said it had told mediators it was sticking to its original demands for a comprehensive ceasefire, which include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a return of displaced Palestinians, which Israel described as completely unrealistic.
Despite the resolution being passed, the fighting is still continuing in the Gaza Strip as the Israelis maintain their military campaign in the territory.
No veto allows vote through
The resolution was proposed by ten elected members of the UN Security Council, which were: Algeria, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Republic of Korea, Japan, Slovenia, Guyana, Ecuador, Malta, and Switzerland.
The ceasefire they called for and indeed had been calling for repeatedly since the war began in October, became possible after the US refrained from vetoing the measure, which was a change from its previous position, undoubtedly representing an increasing divide between the Americans and previously strong ally Israel, over the offensive in Gaza.
No shift in policy
White House spokesperson John Kirby insisted that the US abstention did not signal a shift in policy, but he said the final UN resolution did not have language the US deemed essential – hence the abstention.
He maintained that talks would continue with the Israelis, even if on this occasion they had decided not to send a delegate to Washington, which he admitted had left the US a little “perplexed”.
He explained: “It’s a non-binding resolution, so there is no impact at all on Israel and its ability to go after Hamas,” and he reiterated that their position and policy on the conflict remains unchanged.
Patience wearing thin
Nevertheless, it has been getting increasingly obvious that President Joe Biden and his senior officials have been losing patience with the direction Israel were taking the fight in Gaza.
Their language has become more and more forceful in their disapproval of the Israeli approach, and now it would seem that the decision has been made concluding that strong words were not getting the message across, resulting in the action taken.
Secretary General in “unforgivable” quote
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was adamant that the resolution “must be implemented” to secure a ceasefire and the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages”, adding that “failure would be unforgivable,” but in making those statements he appears detached from the mood of the Israelis.
“Retreat” claim
That fact was substantiated when Mr Netanyahu called the US decision a “clear retreat” and accused them of having “abandoned” its previous policy. Israel strongly objected that the resolution did not make the call for a ceasefire which was conditional on the release of the hostages, as the US and they had both argued it should have.
In their opinion it was effectively playing into the hands of Hamas, who were banking on international pressure being applied to try and force Israel to accept a ceasefire that suited their group and would harm the Israeli war effort and their continuing effort to release their people being held hostage.
Delusional demands
Reports have suggested that a deal being worked on at the time of the vote, proposed that just 40 Israeli hostages would be released in exchange for a huge 800 Palestinian prisoners.
In response to such numbers, Israel accused Hamas of proposing “delusional” demands and said they had rejected any compromises, meaning that their own stance remains unchanged, which is to continue to act to achieve all their goals of the war. These being: “the release of all the hostages, destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and ensuring that Gaza will never again be a threat to Israel.”
UK airdrop aid
On a positive note, the UK has airdropped food supplies into Gaza for the first time. The Royal Air Force took off from a base in Amman and parachuted more than 10 tonnes of aid, including water, rice, cooking oil, flour, tinned goods and baby formula to Gaza civilians, along its northern coastline, as part of a Jordanian-led international aid mission.
Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps authorised the drop and confirmed that the UK had tripled its aid budget to Gaza, but wanted to go further to “reduce the human suffering”.
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