Biden Proposes Limited Gaza Ceasefire, Vetoes UN Proposal

ANALYSIS – In what appears to be a big shift in support for Israel, Team Biden, for the first time, proposed a temporary ceasefire for Gaza at the U.N. Security Council.

This, after avoiding any mention of the controversial term since the Israeli response to the brutal Hamas attacks back in October.

Some Israel supporters are unhappy with this Biden move. But others see it as a way to deflect more aggressive anti-Israeli actions at the U.N.

The U.S. resolution in part called for a temporary ceasefire and the release of all Israeli hostages by Hamas and required Israel to not enter Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Algeria proposed a much more expansive resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, and, as noted by Axios:

…the delivery of aid to the entire Gaza Strip, Israel’s compliance with the orders of the International Court of Justice and for all parties to respect their obligations under international law.

It also rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Thirteen countries out of fifteen on the Council voted in favor of the Algeria-led resolution, while the U.S. voted against it, and the U.K. abstained.

Team Biden then proposed its own temporary ceasefire draft resolution that did not stipulate a timeframe, saying it should come “as soon as practicable” but was predicated on Hamas releasing all hostages held in Gaza.

It’s unclear whether the U.S. draft will come to a vote.

Axios continued:

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement this weekend that the U.S. believes a hostage deal proposal the Biden administration is pushing “represents the best opportunity to reunite all hostages with their families and enable a prolonged pause in fighting.

The deal would lead to at least a six-week pause in fighting.

As Fox News reported:

…the U.S. text states in part that it “determines that under current circumstances a major ground offensive into Rafah would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement including potentially into neighboring countries.”

Richard Goldberg, a former NSC official during the Trump administration, told Fox News Digital, “The United States should be vetoing pro-Hamas resolutions, not proposing them. By putting forward a resolution calling for a ceasefire and opposing Israeli military action in Rafah, the White House is effectively pushing for Hamas to survive to massacre another day. This is a complete betrayal of U.S. interests and values.”

A senior administration official speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity said, “We don’t believe a rush to a vote is necessary or constructive and intend on allowing time for negotiations.”

The Jewish state has hitherto opposed President Biden’s attempts to torpedo its slated seizure of Rafah where one of the last bastions of Hamas terrorists and hostages, including Americans, are believed to be located.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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