US State Department acknowledges divisions in Israeli government over truce deal
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has said that there are “certain people” in Israel’s government who “would probably not look too kindly” on the new US-backed truce proposal.
Miller’s comments came after he was asked why there would be a need to “implore the Israelis to accept” a truce deal that the White House has claimed Israel’s government tabled itself. Miller clarified that the US was imploring “others in the Israeli government” to accept the deal, but “ultimately, this is an Israeli government proposal”.
Far-right Israeli officials have rejected the three-phase deal, announced by US President Joe Biden last week, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich pledging to push to “replace” the country’s “failed leadership” if it accepts it.
US wants UNSC backing for Biden-backed ceasefire proposal
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield has called on members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to back a new resolution put forward by the United States “to end the fighting in Gaza through a ceasefire and a hostage deal”.
“Numerous leaders and governments, including in the region, have endorsed this plan – and we call on the Security Council to join them,” Thomas-Greenfield said in a post on X.
Another ceasefire resolution put forward by Algeria last week, specifically calling for Israel to halt its ground invasion of Rafah, did not gain the support of the United States, with a US State Department spokesperson describing the text as “imbalanced”.
Does that mean that the UNSC will hold Israel and Hamas to account if either breaks the agreement (if reached) Or just more publicity for Biden? A resolution that endorses a proposal? What does that even mean. (And watch Russia veto it anyway out of spite, UNSC is useless)
Sanders says won’t be attending ‘war criminal’ Netanyahu’s US Congress address
Senator Bernie Sanders has criticised US lawmakers for inviting “war criminal” Benjamin Netanyahu to speak at Congress and said he won’t be attending the Israeli prime minister’s address.
“Israel had every right in the world to defend itself against the horrific Hamas terrorist attack of October 7. But you know what? Israel did not have the right under Netanyahu’s right-wing extremist leadership to go to war against the entire Palestinian people,” he said in a video posted on X.
On Friday, Republican and Democratic leaders issued a formal invitation for Netanyahu to deliver a speech in the Senate and House of Representatives, in the latest show of support for Israel amid its war on Gaza.
Netanyahu’s office said he had accepted the invitation and was “moved by the privilege of representing Israel before both houses of Congress”. It did not specify a date for the speech.
Right now tens of thousands of children in Gaza are facing starvation, malnutrition, and famine.
And Congressional leadership thinks it’s okay to invite war criminal Netanyahu to address Congress?
No. Unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/sun43kAE4z
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 4, 2024
