‘Should Not Proceed’

The Biden administration Monday put forth alternative U.N. Security Council resolution that would support a temporary cease-fire in Gaza – after rejecting an Arab-backed resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire – and states Israel’s planned major ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah “should not proceed under current circumstances.”

The draft resolution proposed by the U.S., and obtained by the Associated Press, calls for temporary cease-fire “as soon as practicable.”

The draft also calls for the release of all hostages taken by Hamas in its Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel and the lifting of all restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Roughly 1.5 million Palestinians have sought safety in Rafah since Israel declared war on the Palestinian-affiliated Hamas militant group almost immediately after the terror attack.