The United States, which has supported Israel since the outbreak of war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas in October last year, submitted a resolution to the UN Security Council on the 19th calling for a ‘temporary ceasefire’ between the two sides. It is interpreted that Israel has sent a clear warning as concerns grow that the number of Palestinian civilian deaths will increase as Israel intensifies its ground battle in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
According to Reuters, the resolution included support for quickly entering into a temporary ceasefire, saying, “The ground battle in Rafah will cause damage to civilians and lead to migration to neighboring countries.” A day ago, when Algeria, an Islamic country, submitted a resolution supporting Hamas and calling for an “immediate ceasefire,” the United States clearly expressed opposition to the resolution. However, as international concerns over the killing of civilians grew, both sides began mediating through a temporary ceasefire plan that was lower in scope than the Algerian resolution.
CNN diagnosed this as a “progressive change,” considering that the United States has twice exercised its veto on Security Council resolutions critical of Israel since the outbreak of war. The International Crisis Group, an international conflict research institute, explained, “This is the strongest signal the United States has ever sent to the United Nations. It means that Israel cannot rely indefinitely on diplomatic protection from the United States.” The 26 member states of the European Union (EU) also agreed on a statement calling for a halt to fighting and opposing the Rafah attack.
On the 19th, the United Nations’ International Court of Justice (ICJ) began a trial to determine whether Israel’s actions, which have occupied the Gaza Strip for 57 years since 1967, were legal. Although it takes about six months for a final ruling to be made and is not legally binding, it is expected to serve as a factor in increasing political pressure on Israel following the international community’s demand for a ceasefire.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.