Elements of the UN resolution which passed through the security council were aligned with the US and Israel's position seeking a ceasefire and hostage release, the State Department said Monday afternoon, with spokesperson Matthew Miller expressing surprise at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to withdraw his aides from this week's meetings. 

The US didn't vote for the resolution because of its failure to condemn Hamas for the attacks on October 7, Miller said. 

"But the reason we didn't veto it is because there were also things in that resolution that were consistent with our long term position, most importantly, that there should be a ceasefire and that there should be a release of hostages, which is what we understood also to be the government of Israel's position," he said. 

US position on Rafah operation

Miller reiterated Secretary of State Antony Blinken who last week in Israel said a full scale invasion of Rafah would be a mistake not only because of the civilian harm there but for Israel's national security as such an invasion would undermine their standing in the world. 

It does not appear that the State Dept. had been in communication with Netanyahu or cabinet members since the announcement of the trip's cancellation.