The foreign secretary did not demand an instant cessation of hostilities.
A alternative resolution that calls for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire is reportedly being considered by Washington for veto, according to Reuters. There are worries that this resolution could endanger negotiations between the US, Egypt, Israel, and Qatar.
Although the word “ceasefire” has not been used by US officials at the UN until today, President Joe Biden’s tone in his discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reflected in the revised text.
If adopted, the Security Council would “underscore its support for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practicable, based on the formula of all hostages being released, and call for lifting all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale” .
The sentence continues: “Under current circumstances a major ground offensive into Rafah would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement including potentially into neighbouring countries.”
Over a million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah, and the humanitarian situation is being worried about by the international community in case of an offensive.
