US call at UN for Gaza truce linked to hostages blocked

1. Russia and China have vetoed a US draft resolution that tied an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to the release of hostages held by Hamas
2. It was the first time the US has supported calls for an immediate ceasefire in the region, having previously blocked such demands at the UN
3. Netanyahu says Israel plans to launch a ground offensive in Rafah with or without US support, as he meets the US secretary of state Antony Blinken in Israel
4. But Blinken, who is in the Middle East to discuss a post-war plan to govern and secure Gaza, says a ground operation in Rafah risks killing more civilians
5. A UN-backed food security assessment this week said 1.1 million people in Gaza were struggling with catastrophic hunger and starvation
6. Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and taking 253 others hostage
7. Hamas says more than 31,900 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its retaliatory offensive to eliminate Hamas

US call at UN for Gaza truce linked to hostages blocked

Brandon Livesay

Reporting from New York

The US and Israel are key allies, but today's events hint at the growing concern the Biden administration has for the situation in Gaza.

At the UN headquarters in New York, the US put forward a draft resolution that tied an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to the release of hostages held by Hamas.

It failed, with vetoes from Russia and China.

But my colleague Nada Tawfik explained earlier how the langauge was stronger than any previous resolutions drafted by the US.

And in Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minisiter Benjamin Netanyahu. It was Blinken's sixth trip to the region since 7 October.

That's a wrap for our live coverage today. You can read a full account of the UN vote here.

Our writers today were Barbara Tasch, Jake Lapham, Malu Cursino, Ali Abbas Ahmadi, Fiona Nimoni and Anna Boyd.

Thanks for following along with us.

What's been happening?

EPA

It's just after 19:00 in Israel and 17:00 here in the UK. These are the latest developments:

• Russia and China have vetoed a US draft resolution that tied an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to the release of hostages held by Hamas

• The US accused Russia of putting "politics over progress" following the vote, while Russia said the US draft was a "hypocritical spectacle"
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has finished his visit to the Middle East and spoke to reporters in Israel before boarding a plane back to Washington
• He said there had been "some positive steps" on aid in Gaza, and ceasefire negotiations are down to a "few remaining gaps"
• He again cautioned Israel against a military operation in Rafah
• Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Blinken that entering Rafah was the only way to defeat Hamas
• Meanwhile, a separate UN draft resolution will be voted on by the security council tomorrow

Blinken met Israeli President to discuss ceasefire negotiations

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his Middle East trip. Earlier today, the pair discussed negotiations "to achieve a ceasefire of at least six weeks".

The ceasefire would also "secure the release of hostages and enable a surge of critical humanitarian assistance into Gaza", according to Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US Department of State.

"Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the US commitment to Israel’s security and the lasting defeat of Hamas, while emphasizing the need for Israel to take all possible measures to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza – including through the prompt, effective facilitation of critical humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.

"The secretary also underscored the US commitment to securing lasting peace and stability in the region," Miller said.

UN Security Council to vote on new draft resolution tomorrow

Nada Tawfik

Reporting from New York

The UN Security Council will vote Saturday at 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on another draft resolution which has been put forward by seven elected members of the council.

It demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, leading to a permanent and sustainable ceasefire. It also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and emphasises the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

The draft proposal was put forward by Algeria, Malta, Mozambique, Guyana, Slovenia, Sierra Leone and Switzerland.

Where does international community go from here?

Nada Tawfik

Reporting from New York

It wasn’t a surprise that this US draft resolution at the UN Security Council failed.

The language is stronger than various iterations over the last few months which called for a pause in the fighting, or creating conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities or a temporary ceasefire as soon as practicable.

Diplomacy can be complicated business. But Russia and China have made clear in past speeches before the council that it is past time for the international body to demand an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end the suffering of Palestinian civilians.

And the latest US draft did not explicitly do that. Rather, it tied one to the hostage deal currently being negotiated.

Moscow’s ambassador accused the United States of trying to deliberately mislead the international community, while Washington’s ambassador accused Russia of playing politics.

So where does this leave the international community? On Saturday, the security council will vote on another draft that does demand a ceasefire. And it’s unclear how the US will vote.

Meanwhile, France is working on a longer term resolution focused on a political settlement to the crisis.

Israel makes West Bank land declaration as Blinken visits

Raffi Berg

BBC Online Middle East editor

EPA-EFE

Israel has declared an area of the occupied West Bank as state land - the biggest in decades, according to activists - which could now be used for settlement activity.

The timing of the announcement, by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, was significant, coinciding with the arrival in Israel of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for talks on the Gaza war.

Blinken recently declared settlements in the West Bank to be "inconsistent with international law" - a reversal of the US's position under the Trump administration.

Smotrich - an arch-proponent of Jewish settlement activity in the West Bank - said 800 hectares (1,977 acres) of land in the northern Jordan Valley were now state-owned, meaning they can be developed.

"While there are those in Israel and the world who seek to undermine our right over the Judea and Samaria [Biblical terms for the West Bank] area and the country in general, we are promoting settlement through hard work and in a strategic manner all over the country," he said.

The announcement is likely to anger the US at a time of growing tensions with Israel over the intensity of its offensive in Gaza.

There are about 700,000 Jewish settlers who live in some 140 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war and claimed by Palestinians for a future state.

The settlements are considered illegal by most of the international community, though Israel disputes this.

Blinken: 'Candid conversations were held'

Reuters

Speaking about conversations he had with Israel, he says they were focused on three things: the hostage negotiations, humanitarian assistance, and Rafah.

Blinken says important "candid" conversations were had.

"We have the same goals," Blinken tells reporters as both Washington and Israel are committed to "defeating Hamas" and Israel's long-term security, but the secretary of state adds that a major ground operation in Rafah is not the way to achieve it.

Blinken also tells reporters that any goals should be achieved with an integrated humanitarian, military and political plan.

US 'trying to show sense of urgency' with draft UN resolution

Blinken is now asked about what the US was trying to achieve with the UN draft resolution.

He says the US was trying to show a sense of urgency about getting a ceasefire done and hostages released.

He adds the strong support shows the resolution is something the international community could get behind and is "evidence and demonstration of the commitment and conviction of countries around the world, notably on the Security Council".

Blinken says the resolution also condemned Hamas, and says it's "unimaginable" why certain countries would not be able to do so.

'Down to few remaining gaps' - Blinken on ceasefire negotiations

Blinken is asked by a reporter for an update on ceasefire negotiations under way in Qatar.

He says while he can't give details, the US is "intensely engaged in them" and has teams in Doha.

Negotiators have "got it down to a few remaining gaps", he says, working with the Qataris, Egyptians and Israelis.

"The closer you get to the goal line, the harder that last yard is," Blinken adds.

But he says "we're determined to get there, determined to get people home".

Rafah offensive 'risks wreaking greater havoc'

Blinken is now talking about Israel's aim to ensure long-term security, which the US shares, as well as the "goal of defeating Hamas, which is responsible for the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust".

But, he warns, a major miliary ground operation in Rafah is not the way to do it.

"It risks killing more civilians, it risks wreaking greater havoc with the provision of humanitarian assistance.

"It risks further isolating Israel around the world and could jeopardise its long term security and standing."

Blinken finishes remarks in Israel

Blinken has just finished speaking at Tel Aviv airport before boarding his plane back to Washington DC.

Stay with us as we bring you the rest of his comments about his discussions with Israeli leaders.

Some positive steps in Gaza 'but not enough'

More from Blinken, who says "we also talked about the imperative of sustaining humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza.

"100% of the populations of Gaza is acutely food insecure, 100% is in need of humanitarian assistance."

He says there have been some positive steps but it's not enough.

Hard to describe what hostage families are going through - Blinken

US Pool

"I came back to Israel as a friend, and to have candid conversations as friends do," Blinken says.

He had a chance to meet with the hostage families again, Blinken says, and it is hard to describe what they have been going through.

He adds that as discussions reach the end stages, it gets more difficult. Blinken reiterated Washington's commitment to ensure the 7 October Hamas attack in Israel never happens again.

Addressing reporters before he heads back to Washington, Blinken says he discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Antony Blinken speaks ahead of departure

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived at the airport in Tel Aviv and is speaking to reporters before he gets on the plane back to Washington.

It comes after he met Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss a post-war plan to govern and secure Gaza, as the US grows more critical of Israel's military campaign.

Follow live as we bring you all the latest.

Blinken greets protesters calling for hostage release deal

Tom Bateman

Travelling with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Blinken greets demonstrators calling for a hostage-release deal

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has just greeted demonstrators in Tel Aviv calling for a hostage-release deal.

Amid tight security he left his armoured vehicle and strode towards a line of banner-holding protesters, telling them “we’re working to bring them home”.

He walked swiftly down the line of people who were behind barricades, shaking hands with some, before getting back into the motorcade vehicle.

'If Hamas surrender the war will be over' - Israeli minister

BBC

Israel's economy minister says Israel has a duty to "eliminate" Hamas

Some reaction now from Israel's economy minister to the failed US-drafted UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Speaking on the BBC News channel, Nir Barkat reminds viewers of the Hamas attack on 7 October, saying that "Hamas's charter is to eliminate Israel off the face of the Earth".

Barkat says Israel could stop the war very quickly if Hamas were to "raise their white flag" with a "total surrender".

His government is obliged to attack Hamas, he says, adding that nobody can stop Israel from doing that.

Barkat goes on to say the Israeli military tries to minimise collateral damage doing "anything we can not to hurt innocent civilians" but insists Hamas uses them as shields.

He says Israel "has no quarrel with the civilians in Gaza" but the "reality of war is not simple" and says Israel's troops "will enter Rafah for the reason of dismantling Hamas".

He adds: "We recommend the BBC and the rest of the world to ask Hamas where are the hostages?"

"We expect the world to put pressure on Hamas, not on us."

Israel PM says entering Rafah is only way to defeat Hamas

More now from Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has held a meeting with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Speaking to the media afterwards, Netanyahu says he told Blinken: "We have no way to defeat Hamas without entering Rafah and eliminating the rest of the (Hamas) battalions there".

"I hope we will do it with the support of the United States, but if we have to, we will do it alone," Netanyahu says.

Netanyahu also says he told Blinken he recognised the need to evacuate civilians from war zones and to deliver humanitarian assistance. He says Israel is "working for this".

Watch: Moment US draft resolution fails in UN vote

Watch: US draft resolution fails during UN vote

Security Council statements 'won't pressure Israel' says ex-US diplomat

Christopher Henzel, a former US ambassador to Yemen and Saudi Arabia, has been talking to BBC Newsday about the tricky tightrope the US has to walk over its relationship with Israel.

Henzel says that, in theory, the US has “massive leverage over Israel as the key supplier of these weapons and other sort of support” but that in practice, "the US is not going to exercise that leverage".

"So instead, it falls to these statements and declarations in the Security Council, which I don’t think in the near term will put too much pressure on Israel,” he adds.

Commenting on Blinken’s visit to the region and the negotiations in Doha, he says that he suspects Israel would not be “in the mood” to agree to any ceasefire and that Hamas is not ready to back down.

France to draft new ceasefire resolution

Getty Images

France will work on a new UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, President Emmanuel Macron says.

Speaking at the end of an EU leaders summit in Brussels, Macron says France is going to "resume work on the basis of the French draft resolution in the Security Council and work with our American, European and Arab partners to reach an agreement".

"The Security Council must call for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access", he added.

His comments followed a vote on a US-drafted resolution that was vetoed by Russia and China.