Israel Rejects UN Call for Extended Humanitarian Pauses in Gaza Due to Hostage Situatio

Israel has rejected the UN Security Council’s call for extended humanitarian pauses in the Gaza conflict, citing the captivity of 239 hostages, including Israeli and foreign nationals, by the Hamas militant group. The Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that such pauses are untenable until the hostages are released.

The statement urged the UN Security Council to unequivocally condemn Hamas for its October 7 attack on Israel. The resolution, adopted by the UNSC, called for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors in Gaza to facilitate aid delivery to civilians. Russia, the UK, and the US abstained from voting, allowing the resolution to pass with the support of other Council members.