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Israel's Foreign Minister Katz at the UN Security Council in New York: "Yesterday's vote was a mistake, morally and practically"

Photo: Lev Radin / Pacific Press Agency / IMAGO

Negotiations over a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of more Hamas hostages are coming to a standstill, according to media reports. The Israeli negotiating team, led by the head of the foreign intelligence agency Mossad, will leave the location of the talks, the Qatari capital Doha, and return to Israel, Israeli media reported on Tuesday. The reason is that the Islamist Hamas rejected a compromise proposal from the USA.

The USA had waived its right to veto the resolution

The UN Security Council had previously called for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip for the first time since the start of the war in a resolution that was binding under international law on Monday. In addition, the most powerful body in the United Nations is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas. Israel criticized, among other things, the fact that the release of the hostages was not mentioned as a clear condition for a ceasefire.

The USA had waived its right of veto. The decision came against the backdrop of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and fears of an Israeli offensive in the town of Rafah on the border with Egypt.

Following the Security Council's decision, Hamas said it would maintain its demand for a comprehensive ceasefire in the negotiations, including a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

On March 15, according to media reports, Hamas presented a proposal for a plan in three phases. The first would be a six-week ceasefire with an exchange of around 40 hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Only at the start of a second phase would a full ceasefire be declared. According to the new statement, however, Hamas continues to insist on its original demands.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday, according to his office: "Hamas' position clearly demonstrates that it is not interested in continuing negotiations on a deal and is sad evidence of the damage caused by the Security Council's decision has."

Netanyahu says Hamas celebrates Security Council resolution

Netanyahu spoke of “extreme demands” from Hamas. The terrorist organization's goal is to retain power in the Gaza Strip "so that it can repeat the massacre of October 7th again and again, as it promised." Hamas has "rejected all US compromise proposals while celebrating the UN Security Council resolution." Israel is sticking to its war goals of destroying Hamas and releasing all hostages.

On Monday it was said that during negotiations between the mediating states of Qatar, Egypt and the USA, Israel had agreed to approach Hamas and, in exchange for 40 Israeli hostages, release a few hundred more Palestinian prisoners than had previously been agreed.

According to Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, the resolution strengthened Hamas and led it to reject a US compromise proposal on a new hostage deal. Katz now told the Israeli army radio station that he was disappointed that the USA did not stop the resolution with a veto.

"Yesterday's vote was a mistake, morally and practically," said Katz. Hamas has "received the message that it doesn't have to hurry, there is another way." However, Israel will continue its military operation in the Gaza Strip, including the offensive in the southern city of Rafah.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who met the Israeli Foreign Minister on Tuesday, welcomed the international community's appeal for a ceasefire as overdue. The call for the release of all hostages in Gaza and for more help for the suffering civilian population is also important. Baerbock is visiting Israel for the sixth time since the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas on October 7th.

Fronts further hardened

The fronts in the Gaza war have continued to harden even after the UN Security Council called for an “immediate ceasefire” in a resolution. While UN Secretary General António Guterres strongly called for the resolution to be implemented, the Islamist Hamas reiterated its demand for a permanent ceasefire - and on Monday evening blamed Israel for the fact that there has so far been no agreement on an agreement for a ceasefire and the release of more hostages.

In turn, major disagreements arose between Israel and its important ally the USA: Out of anger that the Americans had helped the resolution succeed, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a delegation trip to Washington at the last minute. The US government reacted irritably while trying to appease the Israelis and downplay the significance of the Security Council resolution.

more on the subject

  • US abstention in the UN Security Council: This is behind Biden's new Israel courseAn analysis by Bernhard Zand

  • UNRWA aid deliveries in the Gaza Strip:Israel continues to be sidelinedA comment by Muriel Kalisch, Tel Aviv

  • Israel and Gaza: The conflict in maps and graphics

On Monday, Kirby dismissed various questions about whether the relationship between Israel and the USA - and specifically between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden - had reached a low point. That is not the case. "Israel is still a close ally and a friend," emphasized the communications director, but added: "That doesn't mean we agree on everything, and my goodness, we don't."

aka/dpa