Netanyahu cancels Israeli delegation's visit to Washington due to UN vote

(Patria) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would not send a delegation as planned to Washington after the United States abstained from vetoing a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Reuters reported.

Netanyahu, according to a statement from his office, said Washington's failure to block the resolution was a "clear retreat" from its previous position and would harm the war effort against Hamas, as well as efforts to free more than 130 hostages held in Gaza.

"In light of the change in the American stance, Prime Minister Netanyahu decided that the delegation will not go," the statement said.

The UN Security Council voted for a demand for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The United States abstained from the vote.

The high-level delegation was supposed to travel to the US for talks on a planned Israeli military operation in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, where more than a million Palestinians have taken shelter.

White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby spoke about Israel's decision to withdraw from this week's meeting. Kirby said the decision was unfortunate, but that the United States would raise concerns about Israel's policy as part of ongoing talks between the two governments.

"It's disappointing. We are very disappointed that they will not come to Washington DC to allow us to have an important conversation with them about viable alternatives to their ground incursion into Rafah," Kirby said.

"Nothing has changed in our view that a major ground offensive in Rafah would be a big mistake," he added.

He said talks between visiting Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and others would cover the same points the US team planned to raise with the delegation.

In Israel, opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of trying to divert attention from a rift in his coalition over the military conscription law at the expense of relations with the United States.

"It is a shocking irresponsibility of a prime minister who has lost it," Lapid said.