US allows for Gaza cease-fire resolution to clear UN, escalating feud with Benjamin Netanyahu

WASHINGTON − The United Nations Security Council approved a resolution Monday demanding an immediate cease-fire in Israel's war in Gaza during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the unconditional release of all hostages from Gaza after the U.S. abstained from voting.

The U.S., a steadfast ally of Israel during its war in Gaza, allowed the resolution to move forward by abstaining, making it the first cease-fire resolution to pass the council since the Israel-Hamas war began. The 14 other member nations voted to approve the resolution.

Previous efforts to pass similar cease-fire resolutions had failed four times − three were vetoed by the Biden administration.

"Our vote does not − and I repeat that, does not − represent a shift in our policy," White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters shortly after the vote.

In an attempt to temper down an escalating feud between the Israeli government and Biden White House, Kirby said Israel remains a strong ally, adding that friends "can disagree." But the U.S. abstention was met with strong resistance by the Israeli government.

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Netanyahu responds by halting delegation from traveling to US

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will no longer send a delegation that had planned to meet with Biden administration officials in Washington this week as Israel moves toward a military operation in Rafah in southern Gaza.

"In light of the change in the American position, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that the delegation will not travel to the U.S.," Netanyahu's office said. "The withdrawal of the U.S. from its position hurts efforts to release the hostages because it gives Hamas hope that international pressure will allow them to accept a cease-fire without the release of our hostages."

Kirby noted that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is already in Washington and said the White House has every expectation that the Rafah operation will come up during those conversations. Gallant met Monday with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

"We're kind of perplexed by this," Kirby said of Netanyahu's response. "The prime minister's office seems to be indicating from public statements that we somehow changed here. We haven't. And we get to decide what our policy is. It seems like the prime minister's office is choosing to create a perception of daylight here when they don't need to do that."

Why the U.S. did not vote for the cease-fire resolution

Ramadan started March 10 and ends April 9.

The U.S. objected to past cease-fire resolutions because the language did not also address the Israeli hostages in Gaza. Most recently, Russia and China voted to veto a U.S.-led resolution Friday for an "immediate and sustained cease-fire" that also condemned Hamas for the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield pointed to the latest resolution's lack of language condemning Hamas as the primary reason the U.S. did not vote in favor of it. She blamed Hamas for the failure to achieve a cease-fire agreement, which has been under negotiation for weeks.

"We did not agree with everything in the resolution, for that reason we were unfortunately not able to vote yes," Thomas-Greenfield said. "However, as I've said before, we fully support some of the critical objectives in this non-binding resolution, and we believe it was important for the council to speak out and make clear that our cease-fire − any cease-fire − must come with the release of all hostages."

US increasingly at odds with Netanyahu

António Guterres, secretary-general of the U.N, applauded the action on the "long-awaited resolution on Gaza," which also emphasizes "the urgent need to expand the flow" into Gaza.

"This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable," Guterres said in a statement.

The Biden administration has become increasingly at odds with Netanyahu over Israel's efforts to get humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians and as he considers a military invasion of Rafah.

Netanyahu has refused Biden's demand for a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis and has pledged to continue the war in Gaza until Hamas is crushed.

White House: strong allies can disagree

Ahead of his meeting with Sullivan, Gallant doubled down on Israel's commitment to go after Hamas "everywhere."

"We will operate against Hamas everywhere − including in places where we have not yet been," Gallant said in a statement.

Gallant, speaking in Hebrew, told reporters he had a "good meeting" with Sullivan as he exited the White House.

Biden has faced increasing pressure from Democrats and Arab-Americans for over his unwavering support for Israel. The death toll in Gaza is now at 32,000 since Israel began its war against Hamas, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

"We all recognize how important it is that Israel still be able to defend itself," Kirby, the national security spokesman, said. "At the same time, making sure that the humanitarian assistance is getting in, civilian casualties come down, we get those hostages out."

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison. Francesca Chambers is @fran_chambers.