UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council will vote Monday afternoon on a US-drafted resolution that backs Washington’s Gaza ceasefire plan and calls on Hamas to accept it, the council presidency said.
The text, seen by AFP, “welcomes” the truce and hostage release proposal announced on May 31 by President Joe Biden, and “urges both parties to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.”
Unlike earlier drafts, the resolution states that Israel has “accepted” the US ceasefire proposal.
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“This proposal is the best opportunity we have right now to bring at least a temporary halt to this fighting, to be able to get more assistance in, get hostages released,” deputy US ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said.
“We want to put pressure to Hamas to accept this deal, so far it hasn’t accepted this deal, that’s why we to have this resolution, because we’re on a cusp of doing something really really important.”
The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, has been widely criticized for having blocked several UN draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
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But Biden late last month launched a new US push for a truce and hostage release.
Under the proposal, Israel would withdraw from Gaza population centers and Hamas would free hostages. The ceasefire would last an initial six weeks, with it extended as negotiators seek a permanent end to hostilities.
Since the unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 against Israel and the subsequent Israeli counterattack, the UN Security Council has struggled to act.
Following two resolutions focused on humanitarian aid, the Security Council finally at the end of March demanded an “immediate ceasefire” for the duration of Ramadan, after the United States abstained from the vote.
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