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| US call at UN for Gaza truce linked to hostages blocked | US call at UN for Gaza truce linked to hostages blocked |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The US said Russia and China had acted cynically | The US said Russia and China had acted cynically |
| Russia and China have blocked a US draft resolution put to the UN which for the first time called for a ceasefire and hostage releases in Gaza. | Russia and China have blocked a US draft resolution put to the UN which for the first time called for a ceasefire and hostage releases in Gaza. |
| While there have been previous attempts by other countries to call for a ceasefire, the US text marked a hardening of its stance towards Israel. | While there have been previous attempts by other countries to call for a ceasefire, the US text marked a hardening of its stance towards Israel. |
| But Russia and China used their veto. Moscow called the text "hypocritical". | But Russia and China used their veto. Moscow called the text "hypocritical". |
| The move by the US, Israel's key ally, comes at a time of growing tensions between them. | The move by the US, Israel's key ally, comes at a time of growing tensions between them. |
| Washington has made clear that it expects Israel to lessen the intensity of its offensive in Gaza, where the Hamas-run health ministry says at least 31,988 people - mainly women and children - have been killed since the war began on 7 October. | Washington has made clear that it expects Israel to lessen the intensity of its offensive in Gaza, where the Hamas-run health ministry says at least 31,988 people - mainly women and children - have been killed since the war began on 7 October. |
| It has also said it would not support an Israeli attack on the city of Rafah without a plan to protect civilians there, and has urged Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. | It has also said it would not support an Israeli attack on the city of Rafah without a plan to protect civilians there, and has urged Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. |
| Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that Israel will go ahead with a planned ground assault on Rafah, even without the support of its key ally. | Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that Israel will go ahead with a planned ground assault on Rafah, even without the support of its key ally. |
| The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in Tel Aviv for talks, said such an operation was not the answer. | The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in Tel Aviv for talks, said such an operation was not the answer. |
| "It risks killing more civilians, it risks wreaking greater havoc with the provision of humanitarian assistance, it risks further isolating Israel around the world and jeopardising this long-term security and standing," he said. | "It risks killing more civilians, it risks wreaking greater havoc with the provision of humanitarian assistance, it risks further isolating Israel around the world and jeopardising this long-term security and standing," he said. |
| The US - one of five permanent members of the Security Council with the power of veto - has previously blocked resolutions calling for a ceasefire, saying such a move would be wrong while delicate negotiations for a truce and hostage releases were continuing between Israel and Hamas. | The US - one of five permanent members of the Security Council with the power of veto - has previously blocked resolutions calling for a ceasefire, saying such a move would be wrong while delicate negotiations for a truce and hostage releases were continuing between Israel and Hamas. |
| But on Friday it publicly changed its position, in a carefully-worded draft. | But on Friday it publicly changed its position, in a carefully-worded draft. |
| "The Security Council," the text read, "determines the imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire", adding "and towards that end unequivocally supports ongoing international diplomatic efforts to secure such a ceasefire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages". | "The Security Council," the text read, "determines the imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire", adding "and towards that end unequivocally supports ongoing international diplomatic efforts to secure such a ceasefire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages". |
| In doing so, the US linked its support for a ceasefire to the release of the Israeli hostages - 253 - held by Hamas. | In doing so, the US linked its support for a ceasefire to the release of the Israeli hostages - 253 - held by Hamas. |
| Although Russia and China vetoed the draft, 11 countries on the 15-member council voted in favour of it. Algeria voted against it and Guyana abstained. | Although Russia and China vetoed the draft, 11 countries on the 15-member council voted in favour of it. Algeria voted against it and Guyana abstained. |
| Early on Saturday, a vote on a new ceasefire text was postponed until Monday, diplomats told the AFP and Reuters news agencies. | |
| Before Friday's vote, Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, criticised the text as "exceedingly politicised", accusing it of doing nothing to avert Israel's planned assault on Rafah. | |
| More than half of Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians are sheltering in the southern city, where Israel says Hamas leaders are hiding and Hamas battalions still operate. | More than half of Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians are sheltering in the southern city, where Israel says Hamas leaders are hiding and Hamas battalions still operate. |
| The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called Russia and China's action "deeply, deeply cynical". | The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called Russia and China's action "deeply, deeply cynical". |
| "Russia and China simply did not want to vote for a resolution that was penned by the United States, because it would rather see us fail than see this Council succeed," she said. | "Russia and China simply did not want to vote for a resolution that was penned by the United States, because it would rather see us fail than see this Council succeed," she said. |
| Speaking after talks with Mr Netanyahu, Mr Blinken said the US was trying to show the international community "a sense of urgency". | Speaking after talks with Mr Netanyahu, Mr Blinken said the US was trying to show the international community "a sense of urgency". |
| A ceasefire tied to the release of hostages, he said, was "something that everyone, including the countries that veto the resolution should have been able to get behind". | A ceasefire tied to the release of hostages, he said, was "something that everyone, including the countries that veto the resolution should have been able to get behind". |
| French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would now work on an alternative resolution. | French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would now work on an alternative resolution. |
| "What's important to note is that the United States has changed its position, and shown its will to defend, very clearly now, a ceasefire," Mr Macron said. | "What's important to note is that the United States has changed its position, and shown its will to defend, very clearly now, a ceasefire," Mr Macron said. |
| "For a long time, the Americans were reticent. That reticence is now gone." | "For a long time, the Americans were reticent. That reticence is now gone." |