War in Gaza: Israel furious after American abstention at the UN

Israel denounced Monday the abstention of his allyé American leader who allowed the adoption, for the first time, of a United Nations resolution demanding a "ceasefire" immediately in the Gaza Strip threatened by famine, after more than five months of war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas.

Immediately after the adoption of the resolution, Israel canceled a visit by a delegation that was expected to Washington, declaring that the American abstention “harmed” both its war effort and his efforts to free the hostages held in Gaza.

“This is a clear step back from the consistent position of the United States in the Security Council since the start of the war” on October 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

Carried by non-permanent members of the Council, this resolution was adopted by 14 votes in favor and one abstention, that of the United States. Historical allies of Israel, the United States had, until then, systematically opposed the term “ceasefire” in UN resolutions, blocking three texts to this effect.

In recent weeks, however, they have shown signs of a change in tone that led to a proposed resolution on the “need” for a ceasefire , rejected Friday by Russia and China.

Shortly after the vote, the White House debunked accusations of “changing course.” At the UN, the American ambassador insisted that a ceasefire in Gaza could only begin “with the release of a first hostage”.

For its part, the Islamist movement Hamas “welcomed the call from the United Nations Security Council for an immediate ceasefire.” Same tone for the Palestinian Authority which also demanded “a definitive end to this criminal war”.

The resolution “demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan” – which began two weeks ago -, should “lead to a lasting ceasefire”, and “demands the immediate release and unconditional treatment of all hostages”.

– “Unforgivable” –

Do not apply the appeal to a ceasefire would be “unforgivable”, judged UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

“We do not have the moral right to stop the war as long as there are hostages in Gaza,” warned Defense Minister Yoav Gallant , visiting the United States, dampening international hopes for a cessation of hostilities.

The war broke out on October 7 when Hamas commandos infiltrated from the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented attack in southern Israel which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,160 people, mainly civilians, according to a count of AFP established from official Israeli data.

Gaza Strip: Israeli operations around hospitals © AFP – Sylvie HUSSON, Sabrina BLANCHARD

According to Israel, around 250 people were kidnapped and 130 of them are still hostages in Gaza, of whom 33 are believed to have died.

In retaliation, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization as do the United States and the European Union.

On the ground, the situation remains very difficult for the 2.4 million inhabitants of the narrow strip of land subject to a total blockade.

On Monday, Israeli bombings left 107 dead in 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health of the Islamist movement, targeting in particular the towns of Rafah and Khan Younes (south) as well as the city of Gaza (north).

In total, 32,333 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the start of the offensive, according to the same source.

At least two large hospitals, accused by Israel of housing Hamas bases, are targeted by army operations, a week after the start of the intervention against the al-Chifa hospital in Gaza City, the most large area of ​​the territory.

This hospital and its surroundings were targeted by artillery fire on Monday, according to Hamas, as were the surroundings of the al-Amal hospital of Khan Younès, besieged since the day before.

The Palestinian Red Crescent indicated on Monday that only nine patients and a few civilians remained in al-Amal hospital, in addition to staff, after the evacuation on Sunday of the displaced people who had found refuge there.

The army says it has so far arrested around “500 terrorists” in al-Chifa where 170 others have been killed. But according to Hamas authorities, the army destroyed around twenty houses with explosives as well as a building in the Al-Rimal district, close to the hospital, where witnesses reported fighting on Monday.

– “No food” –

In Jabaliya, in the north, residents, many of whom women and children, lined up to fill cans of water which they carried in wheelbarrows, carts or with the strength of their arms.

Humanitarian aid packages attached to parachutes are dropped from a military plane over the Gaza Strip on March 25, 2024 © AFP – –

“We don't even have food to give us the energy to fetch water, let alone innocent children, women and the elderly,” one man testified, Bassam Mohammed al-Haou.

The discussions, which are continuing between technical teams in Doha through Qatar, the United States and Egypt, n have at this stage failed to overcome the blocking points in order to reach an agreement on a truce associated with the release of hostages held in Gaza.

Hamas said it was ready in mid-March for a six-week truce, with the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

On the humanitarian level, the The situation is critical, NGOs have been warning for weeks. Arriving mainly from Egypt via Rafah, humanitarian aid is strictly controlled by Israel and enters the Gaza Strip in dribs and drabs.

Faced with this humanitarian crisis major, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) announced on Sunday that it was now formally prohibited by Israel from any delivery of food aid in the north of the territory, where the situation is particularly dramatic.

UN chief Antonio Guterres defended UNRWA in Jordan on Monday, which he described as a “source of hope and dignity”.

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