The UN Security Council accepted a US proposal to declare a ceasefire in Gaza. The adopted resolution envisages a complete ceasefire, the release of hostages by Hamas, the handover of the bodies of those killed, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Fourteen of the 15-member Security Council, including the United States, voted in favor of the draft, but Russia abstained.
The decision stated that Israel accepted the proposal and called on Hamas to give the go-ahead as soon as possible.
The ceasefire plan envisages three phases. The first is planned to implement a short-term ceasefire accompanied by an exchange of hostages and prisoners.
The second phase would include a permanent cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The third phase involves the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which was almost completely destroyed during the war.
The United States, which has vetoed many cease-fire proposals in the Security Council over the past eight months, first endorsed the idea at the end of March.
But the proposal accepted on Monday night marked the first time Israel had explicitly stated it had accepted the ceasefire plan.
The draft resolution was finalized after six days of negotiations between the United States and other Security Council member states. The adopted bill emphasized that it included “an unwavering commitment to achieving the vision of a two-state solution in which two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders,” in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
The draft resolution said the Security Council would reject any attempt to change the demographic or territorial integrity of the Gaza Strip, including any action to reduce settlement territory.
Biden: Hamas must prove it wants peace
The US has argued that the conflict could end today if Hamas accepts its ceasefire proposal. “Israel has already accepted this agreement. If Hamas does the same, the fighting could stop today,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Israel’s permanent representative to the UN.
In a message shared on his X account, President Joe Biden noted that Hamas now has an opportunity to prove that it wants peace.
Russia: Because we didn’t block…
Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, the only country to “abstain” from the vote, questioned what specifically Israel had agreed to, saying: “We did not want to block the bill, because, as far as we understand, it is supported by the Arab world.”
Hamas said in a written statement that it was pleased with the UN Security Council’s acceptance of the ceasefire bill, giving the green light for negotiations to begin.
Official statement from Türkiye
Turkey said the decision passed by the Security Council was an important step, adding that “it is essential that Israel adheres to the permanent ceasefire and fully implements all elements of the decision in question.”
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell also expressed satisfaction with the decision and called for its immediate implementation.
