The Security Council ceasefire resolution calls on Israel and Hamas “to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition”. Photo / AP
The UN Security Council on Monday permitted its first resolution endorsing a ceasefire plan aimed at ending the eight-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The United States-sponsored resolution welcomes a ceasefire proposal introduced by President Joe Biden that the US says Israel has accepted. It calls on the militant Palestinian group Hamas, which initially stated it considered the proposal “positively”, to settle for the three-phase plan.
Hamas responded to the adoption by saying it welcomed the resolution and was prepared to work with mediators in oblique negotiations with Israel to implement it. The assertion was among the many strongest from Hamas thus far, however pressured the group would continue “our struggle” to end the Israeli occupation and work on establishing a “fully sovereign” Palestinian state.
The resolution — which was permitted overwhelmingly with 14 of the 15 Security Council members voting in favour and Russia abstaining — calls on Israel and Hamas “to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition”.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated after the vote the council “sent a clear message to Hamas to accept the ceasefire deal on the table”, reiterating that Israel had accepted the deal, which is supported by international locations all through the world.
“The fighting could stop today, if Hamas would do the same,” she instructed the council. “I repeat, this fighting could stop today.”
US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood stated on Monday the United States wished all 15 Security Council members to help what he described as “the best, most realistic opportunity to bring at least a temporary halt to this war”.
Whether Israel and Hamas agree to the three-phase ceasefire plan stays in query, however the resolution’s robust help within the UN’s strongest physique places added stress on each events to approve the proposal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated Biden introduced solely components of the proposal and insisted any speak of a everlasting ceasefire earlier than dismantling Hamas’ navy and governing capabilities is a non-starter.
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders met in Qatar on Monday to talk about the proposed ceasefire deal and stated any deal should lead to a everlasting ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, an end to the Israeli siege of Gaza, reconstruction and “a serious exchange deal” for hostages in Gaza and Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Algeria’s UN Ambassador Amar Bendjama, the Arab consultant on the council, stated whereas the textual content wasn’t excellent, “it offers a glimmer of hope to the Palestinians, as the alternative is [the] continuing killing and suffering of the Palestinian people”.
“We voted for this text to give diplomacy a chance to reach an agreement that will end the aggression against the Palestinian people that has lasted far too long,” Bendjama stated.
The war was sparked by Hamas’ surprise October 7 attack in southern Israel that killed about 1200 individuals, primarily Israeli civilians, and had about 250 others taken hostage. About 120 hostages stay, with 43 pronounced lifeless.
Israel’s navy offensive has killed greater than 36,700 Palestinians and wounded greater than 83,000, the Gaza Health Ministry says. It has additionally destroyed about 80 per cent of Gaza’s buildings, says the UN.
The Security Council adopted a resolution on March 25 demanding a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with the US abstaining, however there was no halt to the war.
Monday’s resolution underscores “the importance of the ongoing diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal consisting of three phases”. It comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on his eighth journey to the Middle East since October 7, pursuing that purpose.
Biden’s May 31 announcement of the brand new proposal stated it could start with an preliminary six-month ceasefire with the discharge of hostages in alternate for Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza and the return of Palestinian civilians to all areas within the territory.
Phase one additionally requires the protected distribution of humanitarian help “at scale throughout the Gaza Strip” that Biden stated would lead to 600 vehicles with help getting into Gaza day by day.
In section two, the resolution says with the settlement of Israel and Hamas, “a permanent end to hostilities in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza” will happen.
Phase three would launch “a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families”.
The resolution reiterates the Security Council’s “unwavering commitment to achieving the vision of a negotiated two-state solution where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders”.
It additionally stresses “the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority”, one thing Netanyahu’s right-wing authorities has not agreed to.