Israel must achieve goals soon 'or lose US support'

ISRAEL has just weeks to achieve the results it seeks in Gaza before the US withdraws its backing, experts said last night.

- Marco Giannangeli

On Friday, Washington used its veto to shield its ally from a UN Security Council resolution for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, which was passed by 13 of the 15 members. The UK abstained from the vote.

Despite this US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday issued his strongest criticism of Israeli operations to date.

He said the gap between the Israeli  government’s  declared intentions to protect civilians and the mounting casualties seen on the ground was too wide.

“As we stand here almost a week into this campaign into the south... it remains imperative Israel puts a premium on civilian protection,” Mr Blinken said after a meeting with Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Washington.

Britain’s voting abstention was on the grounds the text did not include condemnation of the October 7 atrocities carried out by Hamas, which killed 1,200 Israeli civilians and captured 250 hostages.

Sir Mark Lyall Grant, who was British ambassador to the UN before being appointed national security adviser in 2015, yesterday said the US was giving Israel a last chance to achieve its goals.