US Drafts Its Own Gaza UN Resolution After Threatening to Veto Ceasefire

The US version says the Security Council should support a 'temporary ceasefire' if a new hostage deal is reached

The US is circulating its own Gaza-related UN Security Council resolution after threatening to veto one being drafted by Algeria that calls for a humanitarian ceasefire.

The new US version calls for the Security Council to express support for a “temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practical, based on the formula of all hostages being released.”

The resolution essentially reaffirms the US position that it opposes a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and doesn’t want a temporary one without a hostage deal. But as things stand now, a hostage deal is far off as Qatar, which is mediating the talks, said the prospects of an agreement are “not very promising.”

The US resolution also warns Israel against launching an assault on Rafah under the current conditions. “The Security Council should underscore that such a major ground offensive should not proceed, under the current circumstances,” the resolution reads.

But the US warning is meaningless since the Biden administration is not considering imposing any consequences on Israel if it invades Rafah and is still providing unconditional military support.

Besides the military support, the US has also given Israel political cover to continue the slaughter in Gaza. The US has vetoed two resolutions at the Security Council for Israel so far and has dismissed the International Court of Justice’s ruling that it’s “plausible” Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.