Netanyahu cancels trip to Washington to protest over UN’s Gaza ceasefire call

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cancelled a planned visit to Washington by a high-level delegation to protest over Monday’s UN Security Council decision calling for an immediate ceasefire.

The resolution passed 14-0 after the US decided not to use its veto power and instead abstained.

"The Security Council just approved a long-awaited resolution on Gaza, demanding an immediate ceasefire, and the immediate & unconditional release of all hostages.

This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable."

-- @antonioguterreshttps://t.co/nOBuQOkxnj pic.twitter.com/68306FOR31

— United Nations (@UN) March 25, 2024

Mr Netanyahu accused the US of “retreating” from what he said had been a “principled position” by allowing the vote to pass without conditioning the ceasefire on the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The Israeli delegation was to present White House officials with plans for an expected ground invasion of the strategic Gaza town of Rafah, where more than one million Palestinian civilians have sought shelter from the war.