Worthy Christian News > Israel-Palestinian Conflict > U.S. Pressuring Israel Through U.N. Cease-Fire Resolution

U.S. Pressuring Israel Through U.N. Cease-Fire Resolution

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The U.S. has submitted a resolution to the United Nations demanding an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza, along with the release of hostages, to apply pressure on Israel, the Wall Street Journal reported.

During his sixth visit to the Middle East since the outbreak of conflict on October 7, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in an interview with a Saudi-government-owned broadcaster, highlighted the significance of the UN draft resolution recently put forward, stating, “I think that would send a strong message, a strong signal.”

“We actually have a resolution that we put forward right now that’s before the United Nations Security Council that does call for an immediate cease-fire tied to the release of hostages, and we hope very much that countries will support that,” Mr. Blinken stated.

The draft resolution presented to the U.N. is expected to meet with opposition from certain Security Council members over its terms regarding the restart of operations in Gaza after a ceasefire.

The White House’s patience is wearing thin due to the ineffectiveness of its efforts to rein in Israel’s military, despite having offered support for months.  The U.S. has issued warnings against Israel launching a major ground operation in Rafah, Hamas’s final stronghold, where four battalions are entrenched. The concern stems from the fact that Rafah is inhabited by approximately one million displaced Palestinians, whom Hamas is utilizing as human shields.

“What we don’t want to see is a major ground operation because we don’t see how that can be done without doing terrible harm to civilians,” Blinken emphasized. He added, “But at the same time, it is imperative to do something about Hamas because Hamas has brought nothing but death and destruction to Palestinians.”

Historically, the U.S. has traditionally used its Security Council position to veto any resolutions that would be detrimental to its ally Israel. However, in this case, it is using its influence at the United Nations to pressure Israel to avoid a ground operation in Rafah.

Negotiators propose a potential six-week ceasefire, during which 40 hostages would be exchanged. Mediators view this negotiation as a final opportunity to prevent an Israeli offensive on Rafah, the last significant urban area yet to be entered by the Israeli military. However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that his conversation with President Biden left no doubt about his resolve to proceed with the invasion of Rafah despite international efforts to broker peace.