Biden: The U.S. is Still Negotiating for Support of a Gaza Ceasefire Resolution

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that the United States is still negotiating with other members of the United Nations Security Council for potential support of a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza to allow humanitarian aid into the strip. Speaking in Milwaukee, Biden refrained from answering when Israel should reduce its attacks in Gaza, stating that negotiations at the UN are still ongoing. John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, stated that the U.S. is seeking to ensure condemnation of Hamas in the resolution. Diplomats said on Wednesday that the UN Security Council vote aimed at increasing aid to the Gaza Strip and requesting the UN to oversee the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza has once again been postponed at the request of the U.S. A UN diplomat, referring to the possibility of a U.S. veto on the draft resolution, told Reuters, "Negotiations are ongoing and more time is needed. A hasty vote does not seem to end well." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Wednesday, "Washington continues to engage broadly and constructively with several countries to resolve some of the remaining issues in this Security Council resolution." Blinken stated that the U.S. wants to ensure that the resolution does not harm the delivery of humanitarian aid and does not complicate the aid process. After more than a week of negotiations and several days of delay in voting, diplomats said that the U.S. is dissatisfied that the draft from Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, calls for establishing a mechanism in Gaza to exclusively oversee all humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza sent through land, air, and sea from countries that are not parties to the conflict. The vote on the UN Security Council resolution regarding Gaza will take place on Thursday. Antony Blinken's press conference coincides with the Security Council vote for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Israeli army is engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Hamas forces in Gaza; international efforts for a ceasefire are ongoing. The Israeli army discovered equipped tunnels in the homes of Hamas officials in Gaza City. The UN Security Council vote on the "Gaza War" resolution has been delayed again; negotiations continue. The military presence of the West in the Red Sea is increasing; the leader of the Houthis threatened U.S. warships. Lloyd Austin, during a visit to the USS Ford aircraft carrier, stated: "We will not allow the war in Gaza to turn into a regional conflict." Ismail Haniyeh's trip to Egypt comes amid negotiations for another ceasefire.