The UN Security Council voted to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the first time since the start of the ongoing offensive against Hamas in Gaza.
The US decided not to veto the resolution, in a significant break with the Israeli government. The US abstained in a vote for a resolution that ‘demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan’. It also demanded the release of hostages by Hamas, but did not make the ceasefire dependent on hostage release, a linkage the US had previously insisted on.
Not surprisingly all other 14 members of the Council voted in favor of the resolution.
Many recall the infamous Obama Administration’s abstention in UNSC 2334, where the USA abstained from vetoing a resolution condemning Israel’s settlement activity as a violation of international law.
In response, Prime Minister Netanyahu has canceled the departure of an Israeli delegation scheduled for talks at the White House regarding Rafah.
PM Netanyahu reiterated last week that the war will continue into Rafah with or without international approval, even without the approval of the USA.
The only winner of a public falling-out between the United States and Israel is Hamas.
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) March 25, 2024
Statement from R’ Efrem Goldberg following the disturbing news:
“Every American should understand what happened today – if God forbid you are ever taken hostage by terrorists, your government is prepared to abandon you rather than defeat those who are holding you.
Don’t be deeply disturbed, disappointed and outraged at the US vote in the UN today calling for a ceasefire without mentioning Hamas only because you support Israel.
Be outraged because you are an American and there are 6 Americans still being held hostage in Gaza – Edan Alexander, 19. Itay Chen, 19. Omer Neutra, 22. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23. Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35 and Keith Siegel, 64.
They deserve elected leaders who help Israel do everything and anything to get them back and to defeat Hamas, not call for a ceasefire.”
This is a disgrace. The UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire that makes no mention of Hamas or October 7th and the Biden Administration let it pass without a veto. After the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Israel must… https://t.co/X5pQcItWDt
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) March 25, 2024
During the upcoming Democratic primaries everyone should write in Donald Trump.
This will send a message to the Democrats similar to What they did in Michigan
My very woke friend finally says he won’t vote for Joe this time. But he is going to sit this election out.Not vote for the Donald.
He’s almost there.
“Zero mention of Hamas”
You’re right. The text also makes zero mention of Israel.
The main portion of the resolution reads as follows:
. Demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire, and also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs, and further demands that the parties comply with their obligations under international law in relation to all persons they detain;
So… there’s a demand for a temporary ceasefire that all parties must adhere to. There’s a demand for immediate and unconditional release of the hostages, and a demand that relief organizations be granted immediate access to the hostages to see to their medical needs.
Can someone explain how Rabbi Goldberg considers this an abandonment of hostages? Does he feel that “unconditional release” is a bad thing?
Do I consider the UN to be in any way an reliable partner here in any way shape or form? Of course not. Do I think the text of this resolution is particularly awful to Israel? No, not really.