On the Foreign Scene
Israel has vowed to persist with its military operation in Gaza, saying it won’t engage in meaningless negotiations with Hamas. This comes shortly after the United Nations Security Council overwhelmingly approved a US-backed ceasefire plan intended to bring an end to the eight-month war.
Israel’s representative to the UN, Reut Shapir Ben-Naftaly, emphasized that her country wants to ensure that Gaza doesn’t pose a threat to Israel in the future. She accused Hamas of using endless negotiations… as a means to stall for time.
The comprehensive three-stage peace deal sets out conditions intended to lead to the eventual release of all remaining hostages, in return for a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces. The resolution was approved by 14 of the 15 UNSC council members, with only Russia abstaining.
Hamas welcomed the adoption of the resolution, saying it was ready to engage with mediators to implement measures such as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, prisoner exchange, and the rejection of any demographic change or reduction in the area of the Gaza Strip.
However, detailed negotiations to implement the provisions are yet to yield agreement from both Israel and Hamas. The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said the US would guarantee Israel follows through with its obligations, while Egypt and Qatar would do the same with Hamas.
More than 37,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. The UN resolution reiterates the commitment for a two-state solution and rejects any geographical changes in Gaza.
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