As could have been expected, the United Nations Security Council meeting came to no agreement on acting to stop the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, since the Biden Administration continues to give Israel unqualified support and a free hand to decide when it wants to end the conflict. This is confirmed by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield who said on May 16 that the U.S. is prepared to offer its good offices when both sides are ready to talk, and repeating the empty words, that the United States has worked “tirelessly through diplomatic channels.”
Meanwhile Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate phone calls on yesterday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. Blinken also discussed with Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud bolstering Saudi defenses, as well as the Yemen crisis. Biden spoke, for the first time since becoming President, with Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, whose spokesman said he had received an “important” phone call from the U.S. President.
Turkey is moving to convene a special meeting of the UN General Assembly to debate the Israeli Palestinian conflict, which requires the signature of half the GA members. It is hoped such a meeting could be held this week.
Netanyahu held a telephone call with Biden on May 15, whom he “thanked for the support of the United States for our right to defend ourselves,” according to Reuters. Speaking on a televised address on May 16, Netanyahu said the operations against Hamas will “take some time,” and that Israel enjoyed serious support, above all from the United States. “We are still in the midst of this operation, it is still not over and this operation will continue as long as necessary,” he said.
Over 200 Palestinians, 58 of them children, have died, and over 1,300 have been wounded; by contrast 10 Israelis were killed, including 2 children; 50 others were seriously injured. Israel acknowledged it had caused 42 “unintentional” Palestinian deaths in its bombing buildings near a hospital last night.
