Israel cancels 'Rafah' meeting with US: Will a ceasefire be reached in Gaza?

12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS

Israel has cancelled a meeting scheduled in Washington to determine the terms of a ceasefire after the US refused to veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The UN resolution, which calls for the release of all hostages, comes after numerous failed attempts at similar measures since October 7. Intense fighting continues between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the US of 'abandoning' its previous policies.

The UN Security Council's first resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire follows urgent calls for action to prevent famine in Gaza.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the US has used its veto power to block three Security Council resolutions calling for pauses in fighting and a ceasefire.

In Monday's session, the US abstained from the proposal calling for an "immediate" ceasefire for the remainder of the month of Ramadan and the "immediate and unconditional release of all hostages."

The other 14 members of the council, including the UK, voted in favor, meaning the resolution was adopted.

According to BBC reports, while Washington has been taking an increasingly tougher stance against Israel, it insisted that its abstention did not signal a change in its Gaza policy.

Israel believes that Hamas is still holding about 130 hostages in Gaza.

ISRAEL REACTS TO THE US

A statement from Netanyahu's office said, "Today's resolution gives Hamas hope that international pressure will force Israel to accept a ceasefire without the release of our hostages, thus harming both the war effort and the efforts to release the hostages."

The statement also noted that in light of the 'change in the US position,' the visit by the Israeli delegation to the US this week would not take place.

Israeli and US officials were set to meet to discuss Israel's planned offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where approximately 1.5 million Palestinians who fled fighting elsewhere in Gaza are located.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had stated that a ground operation in Rafah carried the risk of more civilian deaths and was 'not the way' to defeat Hamas.

FIGHTING CONTINUES IN GAZE

According to reports in the international press, there is no sign of a decrease in fighting on the ground as Israeli warplanes continue to bomb Rafah. Fierce armed clashes also continue to take place around hospitals in Khan Yunis and Gaza City. Rocket warning sirens are also sounding in Israeli border towns.

Responding to Netanyahu's decision to cancel the Israeli delegation's visit to Washington, US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said it was 'disappointing' and reiterated the US view that 'a major ground offensive in Rafah would be a major mistake.'

Kirby said that meetings planned between Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan would continue. However, no information was provided regarding future meeting plans.