Two allies Israel and the United States have displayed their sharpest public disagreements over the conduct and future of the war against Hamas.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel was losing international support because of its “indiscriminate bombing” and that Netanyahu should change his government, which is dominated by hard-right parties.
Hours later, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. “The vote was 153 in favour, 10 against and 23 abstentions.
Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan described the resolution as a “disgraceful” attempt to bind Israel’s hands, warning that “continuing Israel’s operation in Gaza is the only way any hostages will be released.”
Israel has rejected previous calls for a ceasefire, though it agreed to a seven-day truce for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Israel voted against Tuesday’s resolution along with the US, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Austria, the Czech Republic, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia and Nauru.
This non-binding vote is largely symbolic, but it serves as an indicator of world opinion. None of the major powers joined Israel and the US in opposing the ceasefire.
Biden’s comments came as White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan plans to visit Israel this week to discuss with Netanyahu a timetable for war, which would happen if Hamas is defeated.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Israel next week for the visit, which Pentagon officials say is designed to show US support for Israel and also to stress the need to avoid more civilian casualties in Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority welcomed the UN resolution and called on countries to pressure Israel to comply, Reuters reported. Hamas spokesman Izzat El-Reshik echoed that reaction in a statement on Telegram, saying Israel must “stop its aggression, genocide and ethnic cleansing against our people.” The US and Israel say the ceasefire benefits only Hamas.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that since 7 October, the Israel-Hamas war has killed at least 18,205 Palestinians, including many children, and injured some 50,000.
According to the UN and Gaza’s health ministry, the conflict has also led to famine, displaced 85 per cent of the population from their homes and caused the spread of disease.
Israel launched the offensive after a cross-border raid by Hamas militants who killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages in southern Israel on 7 October. On Tuesday, Israel declared 19 of 134 people still held captive in Gaza dead in absentia after the bodies of two hostages were found.
