French Ambassador to the UN Jean-Maurice Ripert, who presides in the council this month, said “there was no formal agreement between member states” on a Gaza statement.
A draft statement submitted earlier for the council’s consideration by Libya on behalf of the Arab League had expressed “serious concern” about the ground invasion and called on the parties “to observe an immediate ceasefire and for its full respect.”
However, the document made no mention of the ongoing Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli territory that Israel said prompted its retaliatory offensive against Gaza, and the British and US ambassadors said the draft seemed too partial.
US deputy envoy Alejandro Wolff, talking to reporters after the consultations, said Washington believed it was important that the region “not return to the status quo” that had allowed Hamas to fire rockets into Israel.
“The efforts we are making internationally are designed to establish a sustainable, durable ceasefire that’s respected by all,” Wolff said.
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