The United Nations Security Council has issued a firm demand for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. This call came on Monday following the abstention of the United States from the vote.
With 14 council members voting in favor, the resolution was put forward by the 10 elected members of the Security Council. Previously, the U.S. had been hesitant to endorse the term “ceasefire” during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, utilizing its veto power to support Israel. However, facing mounting international pressure and a death toll exceeding 32,000 Palestinians, the U.S. chose to abstain from the vote, allowing the resolution to pass.
In addition to calling for a ceasefire, the resolution demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, with Israel claiming Hamas had taken 253 hostages during an October attack.
Furthermore, the resolution stresses the critical necessity of increasing humanitarian aid flow and reinforcing civilian protection throughout Gaza. It reiterates the demand for the removal of all barriers obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly threatened to cancel a planned delegation to Washington if the U.S. did not veto the resolution. This marks a departure from previous instances where the U.S. has utilized its veto power to block resolutions pertaining to the Gaza conflict. Russia and China have also vetoed U.S.-drafted resolutions on the matter in the past.
