Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will no longer send a delegation of top officials to Washington this week after President Biden's administration failed to veto a U.N. resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza on Monday. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, Pool, File)
While the resolution did call for the release of hostages, it did not say that this should be a condition for any cease-fire.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby explained the U.S. decision in a briefing with reporters on Monday. He said the U.S. could not support the U.N. resolution due to its lack of a condemnation of Hamas, but they nevertheless decided not to veto.
ISRAEL LAUDS CONGRESS' BLOW TO UN AGENCY WITH ALLEGED HAMAS TIES AS INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE
He also said at the time that he had yet to hear of any cancellation of Israel's plans from Netanyahu's government.
"We were looking forward to having an opportunity to speak to an Israeli delegation later this week about about exploring viable options and alternatives to a major ground offensive in Rafah. And I'll let the Israelis speak to whether they're coming or not. And I saw what Prime Minister Netanyahu said he would do. And I've seen some early press reporting in just the last couple of minutes that they have moved forward with that. I can't confirm it," Kirby said.
Netanyahu's government has said it will take all precautions to protect civilian lives in an offensive, but that hasn't satisfied the Biden administration. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Israeli officials say an invasion of Rafah will move forward with or without U.S. support, however.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.
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