Israel will not end its war in Gaza until Hamas frees the hostages, its Defense Minister declared in Washington on Monday, after the UN Security Council voted for a “cease immediate fire.”
“We do not have the moral right to stop the war as long as there are hostages in Gaza,” Yoav Gallant said before a meeting with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
A resolution welcomed by Hamas
For its part, Hamas welcomed in a statement on Monday the UN Security Council resolution demanding an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza. The Palestinian Islamist movement has expressed its “desire to initiate a prisoner/hostage exchange process” immediately. Hamas also expressed its desire to “reach a permanent ceasefire leading to the withdrawal of all Israeli forces” from the territory.
The Palestinian Authority also welcomed the UN Security Council resolution on Monday. “We demand a definitive end to this criminal war and the immediate withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip,” Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh said on the X social network.