In Gaza, the eight-month war between Israel and Hamas could end following the UN Security Council’s approval of a resolution endorsing a ceasefire initiative.
The US-drafted resolution is praising President Joe Biden’s announcement of a ceasefire that he said was accepted by Israel. It urges Hamas to accept this proposal that is three-phased.
The resolution, passed by 14 council members, with one abstention from Russia, urges both sides to “immediately and unconditionally implement” it.
It is still not clear whether Israel and Hamas will accept the plan but this overwhelming backing in the most influential organ of the UN adds pressure on both parties to endorse it.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel where he urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a future plan for Gaza after the war while calling upon international community to increase pressure on Hamas over the ceasefire. Netanyahu minced no words about his skepticism over the deal noting that Israel is still committed to destroying Hamas.
Later on Thursday evening, following its adoption by council members earlier in the day, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement saying he welcomed “the decision taken by the Security Council.”
Rather than directly mentioning yesterday’s resolution however, a senior Israeli diplomat addressed council members stating that “Israel’s position remains unchanged: until all its hostages are released or otherwise accounted for and until Hamas’ military and governing capabilities are neutralized.” Minister Counsellor Reut Shapir Ben Naftaly argued that “this also means that Israel will not engage in meaningless and endless negotiations which can be exploited by Hamas as a means of stalling for time.”
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador nonetheless confirmed acceptance of cease-fire deal by Israelis which has been supported globally.
“Let me say categorically,” she warned again during her speech after voting concluded on Monday morning at UN headquarters in New York City: “This resolution sends an unmistakable signal to Hamas – accept the cease-fire.”
The US diplomat repeated her call for an end to fighting on Tuesday. “Today, right now, the war could stop,” she stressed. “I repeat: today’s fight could be stopped.”
US deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters earlier on Monday that the United States sees the deal as “the best, most realistic opportunity to bring at least a temporary halt to this war.”
On Qatar’s agenda today include discussions by leaders of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in relation to the proposed cease-fire agreement and they have said since then that any such arrangement must result in a lasting truce, Israeli troops leaving Gaza completely, rehabilitation plus a serious prisoner swap between those held in Israeli jails and hostages currently being held captive there.
Moscow abstained from voting on the resolution because details of a three-phase plan were not given and ‘there are many questions’.
Nebenzia also said that “it is presumed that this Hamas, with its so-called agreement, but where is the official approval by Israel?” and “What has Israel agreed to in particular after all those comments coming from Israel about extending the war to a complete defeat of Hamas?”
The Arab member on the council Amar Bendjama, Algeria’s UN Ambassador said that while it was an imperfect text, “it offers a ray of light for hope for Palestinians because otherwise there would be continuous killing and sufferings for Palestinians.”
Bendjama further stated: “We voted for this text to give diplomacy a chance to reach an agreement against Palestinian people who have been under aggression for way too long”
Hamas launched an unexpected attack on southern Israeli on October 7th which led to about 1.2 thousands deaths mostly Israelis and subsequently took 250 others hostages Security. There are still 120 hostages, 43 have been confirmed died.
According Gaza’s health ministry, the Israeli military onslaught caused more than 36.7 thousand Palestinians killed with over 83 thousand injured in Gaza .According to United Nations over 80% of Gaza buildings have been destroyed.
On March 25th, a Security Council resolution demanded a humanitarian ceasefire during Ramadan but received only US abstention.
“The importance of the ongoing diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States aimed at reaching a comprehensive cease-fire deal, consisting of three phases shall be emphasized”, says Monday’s resolution before noting that these countries are willing “to work to ensure negotiations keep going until all the agreements are reached.”
In his May 31 announcement regarding this new proposal, Biden said it will begin with a six-months cease fire and release of hostage Palestinians among other demands such as withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza and returning Palestinian civilians to all areas within that territory.
Biden also said that “Humanitarian Assistance” should be distributed “at scale throughout the Gaza Strip” which he added would result in 600 trucks with aid entering Gaza daily.
The resolution also states, with Israel and Hamas’s agreement, the permanent cessation of hostilities “in exchange for all other hostages still in Gaza being released and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.”
Finally, Phase three will be devoted to an establishment of a comprehensive multi-year plan aimed at rebuilding his territory as well as sending all dead hostages back to their families in Gaza.
This resolution re-emphasizes the Security Council’s “steadfast commitment to achieving the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders through negotiations based on international law.”
It is significant that Netanyahu’s right-wing government has not agreed to “the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under Palestinian Authority.”
