The United Nations Security Council on Thursday held a meeting solely focused on the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, even as Israel pushes forward with its Rafah operation. During the meeting, the US condemned the hostage taking by the Palestinian Islamist group on October 7 as a "psychological tool of terrorism". US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said they "won't rest" until the release of every single hostage is secured.
Over 1,200 people were killed after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 last year. Additionally, more than 200 people were taken as hostages by the Islamist group. Several of them were released during a brief truce between the two sides, but 132 remain in captivity, Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan told the meeting on Thursday.
In three resolutions passed by the UN Security Council on Thursday, it called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Meanwhile, Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan questioned the Council's action so far against Hamas until they release the hostages. "Have you imposed sanctions...? What action has been taken?" he asked.
At Thursday's UN Security Council meeting, Shoshan Haran recalled the 50 days she was in Hamas's captivity. She, her daughter and two grandchildren were taken hostage by the group on October 7 last year, and released in November. "We cannot allow the normalisation of this unprecedented form of terrorism...," Haran, now 68, said.
The Republican-led US House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that would force President Joe Biden to send weapons to Israel, in response to him delaying bomb shipments, over fears of mass Palestinian casualties. On Tuesday (May 14), the US State Department moved a $1 billion package of weapons aid for Israel into the congressional review process, news agency Reuters reported, citing officials.
The Israel Security Assistance Support Act was approved 224 to 187, largely along party lines. As many as 16 Democrats joined most Republicans in voting for the Act, and three Republicans joined most Democrats in opposing the same. The Act is not expected to become law, but its passage underscored the U.S. election-year divide over Israel policy.
US Defense Secretary Llyod Austin reiterated in a phone call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant the "unquestionable necessity" of protecting civilians and ensuring humanitarian aid continues to flow without any interruption to the Gaza Strip before any potential operation in Rafah, the Pentagon said.
