The tension between the United States and Israel reached a new high following the passage of a U.N. cease-fire resolution, which prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a planned high-level delegation to Washington for meetings with U.S. officials.
President Biden had requested the meetings to discuss alternatives to a planned Israeli offensive into Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where over a million people have sought refuge. American officials warned that the offensive could lead to a humanitarian disaster.
The United States had previously vetoed three U.N. Security Council resolutions calling for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. However, this time, the U.S. representative abstained from voting, allowing the resolution to pass.
Netanyahu criticized the U.S. abstention, calling it a departure from the consistent American position. In response, he decided to cancel the delegation’s trip to Washington, delivering a public rebuke to Israel’s closest ally.
Despite the cancellation, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remained in Washington for meetings with top U.S. officials. He reiterated Israel’s commitment to continue operations against Hamas and rejected calls for a cease-fire.
The U.N. resolution also called for the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas since the conflict began. Hamas welcomed the resolution and expressed willingness to engage in a prisoner exchange process.
The fallout from the U.N. resolution has sparked anger among far-right elements in Israel’s government, who believe that the U.S. is not prioritizing Israel’s fight against terrorism.
The strained relationship between the U.S. and Israel has been further exacerbated by international criticism of Israel’s conduct in the conflict, with calls for the country to do more to avoid civilian casualties and allow aid into Gaza.
As the situation continues to unfold, both Israel and the U.S. are facing a challenging diplomatic dilemma, with the hope of finding a resolution to the conflict growing increasingly uncertain.
