The US assures the UN that it is “time to end the cycle of violence” in the Middle East

USA assured this Sunday that it is “time to end the cycle of violence” in the Middle East and again offered its mediation to seek a possible ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinians, a measure that, unlike the UN and other countries, did not demand of immediate form.

“The United States has made it clear that we are prepared to offer our support and good offices should the parties seek a ceasefire,” noted the US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, before the Security Council.

The US, which in recent days has made clear its support for Israel, insisted today that Hamas and other Palestinian groups must “immediately stop rocket attacks and other provocations.”

Thomas-Greenfield, meanwhile, made no direct mention of the Israeli bombings on the Gaza Strip. Although she was very concerned about the deaths of civilians and the violence that has affected journalists and urged “all parties” to respect international humanitarian law.

“The United States has been working tirelessly through diplomatic channels to try to end this conflict,” said the ambassador, who gave as an example the calls that President Joe Biden made this Saturday with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and with the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas.

“It is time to end the cycle of violence”, stressed Thomas-Greenfield, who urged “all parties to avoid actions that undermine a peaceful future.”

This includes preventing incitement, violent attacks and terrorist acts, as well as evictions, including in East Jerusalem, demolitions and settlement construction east of the 1967 lines. And it is key that all parties respect the status quo. historical quo of sacred places”, she added.

During the Security Council meeting, the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, and several member states demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities, which have so far left at least 188 dead in Gaza and 10 fatalities in Israel.

Today’s meeting is the third, first public, that the Security Council celebrates since the beginning of the crisis, but so far the body has not made an official statement due to US opposition to a proposed declaration raised by other countries, according to diplomatic sources.