Israel cancels Washington visit in protest after US lets Gaza ceasefire pass at UN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cancelled a high-level delegation's planned visit to Washington after the US decided not to use its veto power on Monday's UN Security Council resolution for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

After vetoing three previous resolutions calling for a ceasefire, the US decision to abstain comes at a time of growing tensions between President Joe Biden's administration and Netanyahu over Israel's prosecution of the war, the high number of civilian casualties and the limited amounts of humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza.

International aid officials say the entire population of the Gaza Strip — 2.3 million people — is suffering from food insecurity and that famine is imminent in the hard-hit north.

More than 32,000 people have been killed in the territory, and more than 74,000 wounded, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its counts. It says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Some 1,200 people were killed on October 7 when Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack out of Gaza, triggering the war, and abducted another 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 Israelis hostage, as well as the remains of 30 others.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the response by Israel to the UN resolution was surprising. "We're kind of perplexed by this," he said.

He said the Israelis were "choosing to create a perception of daylight here when they don't need to do that."

According to a US official with direct knowledge of the talks, American officials were in touch with Israel throughout the weekend to make the US position known on the Security Council resolution, and to articulate that it was not a change in policy or in support for Israel. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive discussions.

Netanyahu did not talk to Biden before he cancelled the delegation's trip, and Biden doesn't have any immediate plans to phone Netanyahu, the official said.

-AP

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