The United Nations Security Council supported US President Joe Biden’s proposal for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, according to Euractiv.
Hamas welcomed the adoption of the US draft resolution. The militant group stated that it was ready to co-operate with the mediators in implementing the principles of the plan “that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance.”
14 Security Council members voted in favour of a resolution supporting the three-phase ceasefire plan proposed by Biden on 31 May. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield declared after the vote:
Today we voted for peace.
Algeria, the only Arab member of the council, supported the resolution because “we believe it can represent a step forward towards an immediate and lasting ceasefire,” Algeria’s UN Ambassador Amar Bendjama stated.
It offers a glimmer of hope to the Palestinians. It’s time to halt the killing.
The resolution also states that “if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, the ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations continue.”
Vague parameters
For Moscow, however, it did not provide enough details. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya asked what exactly Israel had agreed to. He also argued that the Security Council should not sign agreements with “vague parameters.”
We did not wish to block the resolution simply because it, as much as we understand, is supported by the Arab world.
Meanwhile, Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, attended the vote but did not address the council. Instead, senior Israeli UN diplomat Reut Shapir Ben Naftaly said Israel’s goals in the Gaza Strip had always been clear.
Israel is committed to these goals – to free all the hostages, to destroy Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and to ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future. It is Hamas that is preventing this war from ending. Hamas and Hamas alone.
In March, the council demanded an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas. Negotiators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar have been trying for months to secure a ceasefire. Hamas claims it wants a permanent end to the war in Gaza and an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave of 2.3 million people.
According to Gaza health authorities, Israel’s retaliation after a Hamas attack on 7 October last year killed more than 37,000 Palestinians. By contrast, more than 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October.
