Lord Cameron challenged over Britain’s role in UN ceasefire vote

Netanyahu has condemned US position after it too allowed the motion to pass

US abstained from the vote
US abstained from the vote Credit: FAITH AKTAS/ANADOLU VIA GETTY IMAGES

The Government faced a backlash from Tory MPs last night after the Britain helped pass the first UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, was challenged by four Conservative MPs behind closed doors at a 1922 committee meeting, The Telegraph understands.

Some of those who spoke up questioned why the UK had been among the 14 out of 15 members on the UN Security Council to vote for the motion. The US had abstained.

Theresa Villiers, the former Northern Ireland secretary, said she was “alarmed” at Britain’s new position and asked if ceasefire calls were still conditional on the release of hostages.

Theresa Villiers was one of the members who said she was 'alarmed' at Britain's position
Theresa Villiers was one of the members who said she was 'alarmed' at Britain's position Credit: GEOFF PUGH FOR THE TELEGRAPH

Sir Michael Ellis, the former Tory attorney general, is understood to have pressed Lord Cameron on the UK’s stance on the conflict, noting the Foreign Secretary was being praised by the Guardian.

Lord Cameron is understood to have responded to criticism by arguing the UK had not changed its position and still wanted hostages released to bring about a long-term ceasefire.

It came as Israel responded angrily to the US allowing the vote to pass by abstaining. Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the US for a “clear departure” from its policy on the war in Gaza, after it allowed the UN to pass the resolution .

All previous motions for a ceasefire have been blocked by permanent members of the council, including a US-led motion last week that was blocked by Russia and China.

In response to the vote Mr Netanyahu cancelled a trip by Israeli officials to Washington to discuss alternatives to his planned Rafah offensive, which the US opposes.

“Regrettably, the United States did not veto the new resolution, which calls for a ceasefire that is not contingent on the release of hostages,” Mr Netanyahu said.

“This constitutes a clear departure from the consistent US position in the Security Council since the beginning of the war.”

John Kirby, the White House’s national security coordinator, said the Biden administration was “disappointed” the meetings would not go ahead.

“We’re very disappointed that they will not be coming to Washington DC to allow us to have a fulsome conversation with them about viable alternatives to going in on the ground in Rafah,” he said.

He said the US had chosen to abstain because it hoped for a ceasefire in Gaza but would have preferred for the resolution to also condemn Hamas.

‘Israel will not cease fire’

Mr Netanyahu also said that China and Russia had opposed the earlier ceasefire proposal because it was linked to the release of hostages.

“Yet today, Russia and China joined Algeria and others in supporting the new resolution precisely because it had no such linkage,” he said.

Russia had attempted to toughen the ceasefire call until the last minute of negotiations, attempting to change the language to demand a “permanent” halt to hostilities.

Hamas welcomed the ceasefire vote and said it was ready to talk over a prisoner swap.

In a statement posted on social media, the terror group said a pause in fighting was needed to “bury our martyrs who have remained under the rubble for months.”

The resolution calls for a ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the immediate and release of hostages held by Hamas and “the urgent need to expand the flow” of aid into Gaza.

Relations between Washington and the government of Mr Netanyahu have soured as the death toll has risen in Gaza.

Joe Biden, the US president, has publicly called for Israel to cancel plans to launch a ground invasion of Rafah, in the south of Gaza.

Israeli officials have refused, arguing that the offensive is necessary to eliminate Hamas.

The UN resolution is not binding but increases pressure on Israel to end the war.

In an angry tweet, Israel’s foreign minister said his country would not abide by the resolution.

“Israel will not cease the fire,” Israel Katz said. “We will destroy Hamas and continue to fight until the last hostage returns home.”

Lord Cameron faced questions from members of the 1922 committee in a meeting on Monday night
Lord Cameron faced questions from members of the 1922 committee in a meeting on Monday night Credit: JAMES MANNING/PA

Barbara Woodward, the UK’s ambassador to the UN, said Britain would have preferred for the resolution to explicitly condemn Hamas.

“We regret that this resolution has not condemned the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October,” she said.

A Downing Street spokesman added: “We have long called for an immediate humanitarian pause or temporary ceasefire leading to a sustainable ceasefire, which is what this resolution calls for, and that is why the UK voted in favour of it.

“We of course recognise that Israel continues to deal with the aftermath of the brutal attacks on 7 October and innocent hostages continue to be held by Hamas.

“Israel has a right to defend itself and ensure that such an attack can never happen again. But far too many Palestinian civilians are also being killed and a humanitarian catastrophe is a clear and present risk.

“This resolution sends a clear message on the need for all hostages to be released and for aid to be scaled up.”

Sir Michael declined to comment last night.

It came as Mr Netanyahu’s government was facing a crisis over exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from conscription.

Ministers were last night debating a law that would continue to allow the so-called Haredim to avoid national service.

Yoav Gallant, the defence minister, said he could not support the law in its current form, amid growing demands for the Haredim to be brought into the army.

Mr Netanyahu’s fragile coalition relies on support of hardline religious parties and the proposed law puts the prime minister in a bind - he must either disappoint his military leaders or the ultra-Zionist factions.

 

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