UN Security Council to Vote on Ceasefire Resolution for Israel-Gaza Conflict
The United Nations Security Council is poised to vote on a ceasefire resolution aimed at ending the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The resolution, which has been drafted by Egypt, calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to facilitate the delivery of aid to civilians in Gaza. The vote on the resolution is expected to take place later today, and it is likely to face strong opposition from Israel. Israel has repeatedly rejected calls for a ceasefire, arguing that it needs to continue its military operation in order to eliminate the threat posed by Hamas. The United States, which has veto power on the Security Council, has been reluctant to support a ceasefire resolution that does not include provisions for addressing Israel’s security concerns. However, the international community is increasingly putting pressure on the United States to use its influence to end the violence. The escalating conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including women and children. The United Nations has condemned the violence and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. If passed, the ceasefire resolution would provide a much-needed respite for civilians caught in the crossfire. However, it remains to be seen whether the resolution will be enough to end the conflict and bring about a lasting peace.UN Security Council Votes on Ceasefire Resolution for Gaza
UN Security Council Votes on Ceasefire Resolution for Gaza
The United Nations Security Council voted on Monday afternoon on a United States-proposed resolution welcoming a ceasefire proposal announced by President Joe Biden, which the US claims Israel has accepted. The resolution calls on Hamas, which initially expressed positive views on the proposal, to accept the three-phase plan. The draft resolution urges both Israel and Hamas to “fully implement the terms without delay and without preconditions.” If adopted, this resolution would become the first by the Security Council on a ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the eight-month conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood emphasized the need for unanimous support among all 15 council members, calling the proposal “the best, most realistic chance to end this war,” or at least temporarily end it. While the resolution was expected to pass unanimously based on the scheduled vote, council diplomats expressed uncertainty about the stance of Russia and China. Whether Israel and Hamas will agree to the three-phase ceasefire remains unknown. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Biden presented only parts of the proposal and insisted that any discussion of a permanent ceasefire must include the dismantling of Hamas’ military and administrative capabilities. Meanwhile, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders met in Qatar to discuss the proposed ceasefire. They emphasized that any agreement must lead to a permanent ceasefire, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an end to the Israeli siege, reconstruction, and an exchange of hostages between Hamas and Israel. The war erupted after a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7th, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mainly Israeli civilians. About 250 hostages were taken during the attack, of which 120 remain captive. According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, over 36,700 Palestinians have been killed and 83,000 injured in the Israeli military offensive. The offensive also destroyed around 80% of Gaza’s buildings. The Security Council previously adopted a resolution on March 25th demanding a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan, which ended on April 9th. However, the war continued. The current draft resolution underscores the importance of diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the US to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire comprising three phases. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made multiple trips to the Middle East since October 7th to attain this goal. Biden’s ceasefire proposal outlined an initial six-month ceasefire involving the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from densely populated areas in Gaza, and the return of Palestinians to their territories. Phase one also includes the safe distribution of humanitarian aid throughout Gaza, which Biden estimates will include 600 trucks of aid daily. Phase two involves a permanent end to hostilities, the release of remaining hostages, and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Phase three focuses on a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of deceased hostages’ remains. The final draft resolution rejects any alteration of Gaza’s territory or demography or reduction of its size, including establishing “so-called buffer zones.” It also reiterates the Security Council’s commitment to a negotiated two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully within secure and recognized borders. Additionally, the resolution emphasizes the importance of uniting the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, something opposed by Netanyahu’s right-wing government.After a week of escalating violence, the UN Security Council is set to vote on a ceasefire resolution aimed at ending the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The resolution, which was drafted by Egypt, calls for an immediate ceasefire to be followed by talks between the two sides. It also calls for the lifting of the Israeli blockade of Gaza and the opening of crossings between Gaza and Israel. The vote is expected to take place this afternoon, and it is unclear whether the resolution will pass. The United States, which has veto power on the Security Council, has not yet said how it will vote. If the resolution passes, it would be the first time that the Security Council has taken action on the Gaza conflict since 2014. The previous resolution, which was also drafted by Egypt, called for a ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor into Gaza. The current conflict began on May 10, when Hamas fired rockets into Israel. Israel responded with airstrikes, and the violence has escalated since then. Hundreds of people have been killed, and thousands have been injured. The ceasefire resolution is seen as a last-ditch effort to stop the bloodshed. However, it is unclear whether the two sides will be willing to accept the terms of the resolution.
