UN Security Council adopts resolution demanding immediate Gaza ceasefire

The United Nations Security Council has demanded an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages as the United States abstained from the vote.

The remaining 14 council members voted for the resolution on Monday.

Speaking after the vote, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield blamed Hamas for the delay in passing a ceasefire resolution.

“We did not agree with everything with the resolution,” which she says is the reason why the US abstained.

“Certain key edits were ignored, including our request to add a condemnation of Hamas,” Thomas-Greenfield said. She stressed that the release of captives will lead to the increase in humanitarian aid in the besieged coastal enclave.

In a statement following the vote, the White House said the final resolution did not have language the US deems essential, and the vote does not represent a shift in policy.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the US failure to veto the resolution is a “clear retreat” from its previous position, and said Israel will not be sending a high-level delegation to Washington in light of the new US position.

US President Joe Biden had requested to meet Israeli officials to discuss Israeli plans for ground invasion of Rafah, where more than 1 million internally displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays said this is still a “very, very significant” development.

“After almost six months … the vote, almost unanimous,” has demanded a lasting and immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

“The US has used its veto three times,” Bays said. “This time, the US let this pass”.

“Resolutions of the Security Council are international law, they are always seen as binding on all the member states of the United Nations,” he added.

The vote came amid international calls to bring the months-long conflict to an end, as Israeli forces pummel Gaza with one of the most destructive campaigns, and humanitarian conditions in the besieged strip reach critical levels.

More than 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and conditions under total Israeli siege and bombardment have pushed Gaza to the brink of famine, the UN has said.

More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, mostly women and children, while the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger.

In remarks following the vote, France urged work on a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

“This crisis is not over. Our council will have to remain mobilised and immediately get back to work. After Ramadan, which ends in two weeks, it will have to establish a permanent ceasefire,” said France’s UN representative, Nicolas de Riviere.

More to come…

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