Lord Cameron disputed Britain's role in UN ceasefire vote

US abstained from voting Photo: FAITH AKTAS/ANADOLU VIA GETTY IMAGES

Last night the government faced a backlash from Conservative MPs Britain then helped pass the first UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, was challenged behind closed doors by four Conservative MPs at a committee meeting in 1922 year. The Telegraph understands this.

Some of those who spoke out questioned why Britain was among 14 of the 15 UN Security Council members to vote in favor of the proposal. The US abstained.

Theresa Villiers, the former Northern Ireland minister, said she was “dismayed” by Britain's new position and asked whether calls for a ceasefire were still contingent on the release of hostages.

Sir Michael Ellis, the former Conservative Party attorney general, is understood to have pressured Lord Cameron over the UK's position on the conflict, noting that the Foreign Secretary was highly praised by the UK. Guardian.

Lord Cameron is understood to have responded to the criticism by saying Britain had not changed its position and still wanted the hostages released to ensure a long-term ceasefire.

It came as Israel responded angrily to that the United States was allowed to vote for adoption by abstaining. Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the US for a «clear departure» from its policy on the Gaza war after it allowed the UN to pass the resolution.

All previous ceasefire proposals have been blocked by permanent members of the Council, including a US-led proposal last week that was blocked by Russia and China.

In response to the vote, Netanyahu canceled a trip for Israeli officials to Washington for discussions alternatives to the planned Rafah offensive, which the US opposes.

“Unfortunately, the United States did not veto a new resolution that calls for a ceasefire that is not contingent on the release of the hostages,” Mr. Netanyahu.

“This represents a clear departure from the consistent U.S. position on the Security Council since the start of the war.” John Kirby, the White House national security coordinator, said the Biden administration was “disappointed” that the meetings would not take place.

“We are very disappointed that they will not come to Washington, D.C., to allow us to have a frank conversation with them about viable alternatives to ground action in Rafah,” he said.

He said the US had decided to abstain because it hoped for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip but would have preferred the resolution also condemn Hamas.

«Israel will not cease fire»

Mr Netanyahu also said China and Russia opposed the previous ceasefire proposal because it was linked to the release of hostages.

“However, today Russia and China joined Algeria and other countries in supporting the new resolution precisely because there was no such link.” , he said.

Russia tried to tighten the call for a ceasefire until the last minute of negotiations, trying to change the wording and demand a «permanent» cessation of hostilities.

Hamas welcomed the ceasefire vote and said it was ready to discuss a prisoner exchange.

In a statement posted on social media, the terrorist group said the pause in fighting was necessary to “bury our martyrs who have been trapped under the rubble for months.”

The resolution calls for a ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas and the «urgent need to expand the flow» of aid into Gaza.

Relations between Washington and Mr Netanyahu's government have soured as the death toll in the Gaza Strip rises.

Joe Biden, the US president, has publicly called on Israel to cancel plans for a ground invasion in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli officials refused, saying the offensive was necessary to destroy Hamas. .

The UN resolution is non-binding but increases pressure on Israel to end the war.

In an angry tweet, Israel's foreign minister said his country would not comply with the resolution.< /p>

“Israel will not cease fire,” said Israel Katz. “We will destroy Hamas and continue to fight until the last hostage returns home.”

Lord Cameron answered questions from members of the 1922 Committee at a meeting on Monday evening Photo: JAMES MANNING/PA

Barbara Woodward, Britain's ambassador to the UN, said Britain would prefer the resolution to openly condemn Hamas.

< p>“We regret that this resolution did not condemn the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7,” she said.

A Downing Street spokeswoman added: «We have long called for an immediate humanitarian pause or temporary ceasefire that would lead to the sustainable ceasefire that this resolution calls for, and that is why the UK voted for it.

» We, of course, recognize that Israel continues to struggle with the consequences of the brutal attacks on October 7, Hamas continues to hold innocent hostages.

“Israel has the right to defend itself and ensure that such an attack will never happen again. But too many Palestinian civilians are also dying, and humanitarian disaster poses a clear and present risk.

“This resolution sends a clear signal of the need to release all hostages and increase assistance.

Sir Michael declined to comment last night.

It comes as Mr Netanyahu's government faces a crisis over the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from military conscription.

>Last night, ministers discussed a law that would continue to allow so-called Haredim to evade national service.

Yoav Gallant, the defense minister, said he could not support the law in its current form amid growing pressure to recruit haredim into the army.

Netanyahu's fragile coalition relies on the support of hardline religious parties, and the proposed law puts the prime minister The minister is in a difficult position: he must either disappoint his military leaders or the ultra-Zionist groups.