UNITED NATIONS: On Sunday, the United States stated that it had requested a UN Security Council vote on its draft resolution backing the plan “immediate ceasefire with the release of hostages” between Israel and Hamas.
According to diplomats, it is expected that this vote will take place on Monday, but South Korea, current president of the Security Council for June has not confirmed yet.
“Nate Evans, spokesperson for the US delegation said that today US wanted security council to move towards voting… supporting the proposal under discussion,” commented Nate Evans spokesman for U.S. delegation without mentioning when it will be held.
“This opportunity must not be spurned by any members of the council who should speak with one voice in support of this deal”, added Evans.
The US was severely criticized by some quarters for opposing several United Nations drafts calling for a Gaza truce due to its close ties with Israel.
Joe Biden, American President called for peace and hostage release separately from United Nations on May 31st.
Israel would withdraw from populated areas in Gaza while releasing hostages kept by Hamas under this proposed solution. The cease-fire is supposed to last six weeks initially; however negotiators could decide to extend it in order to work out a permanent resolution leading an end violence.
“The primary responsibility towards accepting this proposal lies with Hamas,” said US officials mentioning Palestinian militants group as they addressed them in their latest version of draft text document asking them to accept it.
Accordingly, according a version seen by AFP which was distributed among members yesterday referred to “welcoming” this new truce unlike before where previous versions never mentioned that Israel had already accepted such kind of resolution hence there were no welcomes at all .
It further reads: “This draft resolution further calls upon Hamas also to accept it and urges both parties fully implement its terms immediately and unconditionally.”
The latest text was prepared as per requests from some member states thus making everything clear regarding what is being proposed for the agreement.
The first phase encompasses “full, and complete ceasefire immediate,” release of hostages detained by Hamas, a “Palestinian prisoners exchange” as well as an “Israeli withdrawal from Gaza’s populated areas.”
It also entails the ‘safe and efficient distribution of humanitarian assistance on a large scale across all Palestinian civilians in need throughout Gaza Strip’.
Member state disagreements –
According to diplomats, some members of this council including the Arab representative Algeria during two previous drafts had their reservations regarding especially Russia with its veto power at the UN Security Council.
Since Hamas attacked Israel in an unprecedented way on 7th October, followed by Israel’s counter attack, it has been difficult for Security Council to speak with one voice.
After mainly focusing on two resolutions concerning humanitarian aid, at the end of March the Security Council finally demanded an “immediate ceasefire” throughout Ramadan that was achieved when US abstained from voting.
Algeria then proposed a draft resolution requesting that Israel immediately stop its offensive in Rafah back in May following International Court of Justice’s decision
However, United States rejected such draft saying that it will not be useful but instead promoted negotiations on ground as a mechanism towards achieving ceasefire.
Based on Israeli official figures and AFP’s calculations, most of them being civilians, the death toll stood at 1,194 from Hamas October 7 attack on southern Israel which sparked the Gaza war .
According to the health ministry of Gaza Strip which is ruled by Hamas, not less than 37,084 people, most of them were non-military residents have died since the beginning of Israeli retaliatory offensive that targeted this area.
