The US has requested the UN Security Council to vote on a draft resolution that supports a plan for an “immediate ceasefire with the release of hostages” between Israel and Hamas.
Diplomatic sources indicated the vote might take place on Monday, though this has yet to be confirmed by South Korea, the current Security Council president.
Nate Evans, spokesman for the US delegation, urged the Council to seize this opportunity and support the proposal.
The US, a strong ally of Israel, has faced criticism for blocking several UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
On May 31, President Joe Biden initiated a new effort for a ceasefire and hostage release deal, separate from the UN.
This plan includes Israel withdrawing from Gaza’s population centers and Hamas releasing hostages, with a ceasefire initially set for six weeks and potentially extended as negotiations continue.
The US draft resolution primarily calls on Hamas to accept the proposal, noting that Israel has already agreed. The latest version, shared with member states on Sunday, welcomes the new ceasefire proposal and urges both parties to implement its terms without delay or conditions.
It outlines an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages by Hamas, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza’s populated areas. It also emphasizes the need for widespread humanitarian aid distribution throughout Gaza.
Some Security Council members, including Algeria and Russia, have expressed reservations about previous drafts. Since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and Israel’s counterattacks, the Council has struggled to reach a consensus.
While the Council agreed on a ceasefire for Ramadan with the US abstaining, subsequent efforts, such as Algeria’s draft resolution for an immediate ceasefire following an International Court of Justice decision, have faced US opposition in favor of ground negotiations for a ceasefire.
The conflict, initiated by Hamas’s attack on October 7, has resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people in Israel and at least 37,084 people in Gaza, primarily civilians, according to respective sources from Israel and Gaza.
