(ReliableNews.org) – On October 7, 2023, Hamas started a deadly war with Israel that continues to this day. The fighting has not only led to the deaths of innocent Israelis but also Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. According to The Times of Israel, the war has also taken out over 9,000 Hamas operatives in Israel and Gaza, but the world remains concerned about the loss of civilian life.
On February 20, the Associated Press reported that the United States voted against a UN resolution for an immediate cease-fire. The Arab-backed measure was widely supported, but the US said the deal would negatively affect ongoing negotiations to free hostages in Israel. The final vote for the proposal was 13 to 1 in favor — the United Kingdom chose not to vote at all. The United States’ recent veto was its third against a resolution from the Security Council for a cease-fire in Gaza. It took place after America floated a resolution of its own that included not only a temporary halt of the fighting but also the freeing of all hostages.
According to the AP, which obtained a copy of the US draft resolution, the measure would require Hamas to release all the hostages the group took from Israel after its attack in 2023. The deal would also lift all restrictions on delivering humanitarian aid. The United States believes its solution will create more favorable “conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.” The resolution also recognized Israel’s ground offensive in Rafah, located in southern Gaza, where about 1.5 million Palestinians gathered for safety. It urged Israel not to move forward with that plan because of the danger to civilians and “neighboring countries.” US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield recently stated the US had been working for months on a hostage deal that would bring at least a month and a half of peace in the region.
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