Image source, Getty Images
- author, Anna Faji
- Role, BBC News, Washington
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The United Nations Security Council voted in favor of the ceasefire plan proposed by the United States between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
The proposal sets conditions for a “complete and complete ceasefire,” the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of the remains of dead hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.
14 of the 15 Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution drafted by the United States. Russia abstained from voting.
The resolution states that Israel has accepted the ceasefire proposal, and urges Hamas to agree to it as well.
This means the Security Council joins a number of governments, as well as the G7 of the world’s richest countries, in supporting the three-part plan unveiled by President Joe Biden on May 31.
The vote is likely to increase pressure on both sides to respond positively to the plan with the aim of ending the conflict. It also came shortly after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with foreign leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an attempt to rally support for the peace deal.
Just hours before the vote at the United Nations, Blinken said his message to leaders in the region was: “If you want a ceasefire, put pressure on Hamas to say yes.”
The group previously said it supported parts of the plan, and issued a statement on Monday in which it “welcomed” the Security Council’s decision. Hamas is likely to demand guarantees that the plan will lead to a permanent ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Its political leadership in Doha has not yet formally responded to the proposal, according to US and Israeli officials.
The proposal ends with a grand plan to rebuild Gaza, which was largely destroyed in the conflict.
The first phase concerns the exchange of hostages and prisoners as well as a short-term ceasefire.
The second phase includes a “permanent cessation of hostilities,” as well as a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, according to the text of the American draft resolution.
The third phase focuses on the long-term prospects of the Strip, and will begin a multi-year reconstruction plan in Gaza.
Monday’s decision comes 10 days after President Biden announced that the Israelis had approved the plan. But Netanyahu has not yet supported the American proposal.
While Biden has presented the peace initiative as an Israeli initiative, the United States is also aware that Israel’s divided ruling coalition is approaching the plan with hesitation. This extends to outright opposition by some far-right ministers who threaten to provoke the collapse of the government if the agreement goes ahead.
The resignation of former General Benny Gantz from the war cabinet on Sunday deepened this sense of instability.
President Biden’s account on X, formerly Twitter, noted the passage of the resolution. “Hamas says it wants a ceasefire,” the post said. “This deal is an opportunity to prove they mean it.”
“Today we voted for peace,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the United Nations.
UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic,” adding that “the suffering has continued for a very long time.”
“We call on both parties to seize this opportunity and move toward a lasting peace that guarantees security and stability for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,” Woodward said.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron also welcomed the decision.
Although the United States has previously vetoed similar measures, it did not veto the March resolution. Netanyahu said at the time that the United States had “abandoned” its previous position linking the ceasefire to the release of the hostages.
The conflict began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 251 hostage.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry says the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 37,000 since Israel responded to its attack.