Amid escalating tensions in West Asia due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, now in its eighth month, the United Nations Security Council voted on Monday (local time) to pass a resolution proposed by the US for a permanent ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza.
The US-drafted resolution calls for Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal announced by President Joe Biden on May 31, which has already been accepted by Israel. The resolution was adopted with 14 votes in favor, none against, and one abstention by Russia, which chose not to use its veto power.
The adopted resolution aims to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire in three phases, according to UN News. The first phase demands an “immediate, full, and complete ceasefire,” the release of hostages, including women, the elderly, and the wounded, the return of remains of deceased hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners. It also calls for Israeli soldiers to leave Gaza’s populated areas, for Palestinians to be allowed to return to their homes, and for humanitarian aid to be distributed safely and widely.
The second phase envisions a permanent end to hostilities “in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.” The third phase involves a “major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza” and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to Israel.
President Biden described the deal as providing a “durable end to the war,” not just a temporary ceasefire, and noted that the terms had been communicated to Hamas by Qatar.
US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, emphasized that fighting could stop immediately if Hamas agrees to the deal now endorsed by the Security Council. She stated that the international community is united behind a deal that will save lives, help Palestinian civilians in Gaza start to rebuild and heal, and reunite hostages with their families.
The resolution also stipulates that there should be no attempts at demographic or territorial changes in the Gaza Strip, and reiterates the Council’s commitment to a two-state solution, stressing the importance of unifying Gaza with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.
The conflict in Gaza escalated after the October 7 attack by Hamas, where about 2,500 terrorists breached the border into Israel from the Gaza Strip, leading to casualties and the seizure of hostages. Israel has characterized its Gaza offensive as targeting Hamas’ infrastructure with the goal of eliminating the terror group while minimizing civilian casualties.