The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Monday endorsed a ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, outlined by US President Joe Biden, aiming to end the eight-month-long conflict, while failing to acknowledge ongoing Israeli war crimes. Hamas welcomed the terms designed to ensure permanent peace, citing the need for consistency with Palestinian territorial integrity.
The ceasefire proposal, introduced by Biden on 31 May, details a three-phase process including an initial six-week ceasefire, hostage exchange, and reconstruction efforts. The UN resolution stipulates that negotiations should continue without delay and the ceasefire persist even if talks extend beyond six weeks.
“Today we voted for peace,” US Envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said following the council’s near-unanimous decision. Russia abstained from the vote, citing insufficient details on the agreement’s specifics, while the remaining 14 members of the Security Council voted in favour.
Meanwhile, Qatari state-affiliated media has reported on-going killing of civilians in Gaza city by Israeli forces since the ceasefire plan was voted in yesterday.
Algeria, the only Arab nation on the council, voiced strong support for the resolution. Algerian Ambassador Amar Bendjama said, “It offers a glimmer of hope to the Palestinians. It’s time to halt the killing.” Over 37,000 have been massacred in Gaza by Israel since October, action described as genocidal.
Amid the backdrop of ongoing Israeli violence, including a major Israeli assault on Gaza at the weekend that killed 274, the resolution calls for the immediate implementation of the ceasefire terms by both Israel and Hamas.
Israel’s UN delegation already diluted the aimed de-escalation by expressing a “commitment to achieving security objectives in Gaza,” which include the dismantling of Hamas’ military capabilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from the peace plan while it was prepared, the Guardian said, noting that his endorsement of the ceasefire terms is “increasingly in question”.
Hamas has expressed readiness to work with mediators to implement the ceasefire, aligning with the rightful demands of the Palestinian people.
