UN to vote on US-proposed resolution urging ceasefire between Israel and Hamas

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on a U.S. sponsored resolution demanding an “immediate and sustained ceasefire” in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has already led to over 30,000 deaths. The proposal aims at protecting civilians and facilitating humanitarian aid delivery to more than two million Palestinians. The U.S. has already vetoed multiple draft resolutions, and the current draft does not associate an immediate ceasefire with the release of hostages captured in recent attacks.

The bill states that it will strongly back diplomatic efforts aimed at ensuring a ceasefire, along with the release of all remaining hostages. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador, expressed optimism about the measure being approved, pointing out that its formulation resulted from rigorous work by the 15-member UN Security Council. Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, said that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pushing for an immediate ceasefire and stated that Russia would support a resolution calling for the same.

However, there was some disagreement over the wording of the U.S. draft resolution. Polyansky questioned the term “imperative,” equating it to an intention rather than a concrete resolution. He expressed dissatisfaction with any proposal that did not call for an immediate ceasefire, indicating that Secretary Blinken and the international community are similarly dissatisfied.

The final U.S. resolution draft expressed concern over a potential ground offensive into Rafah. It warned that such an action might result in additional civilian casualties, displacement, and seriously undermine regional peace and security. Blinken stated that a significant military operation in Rafah would be a “mistake” and not necessary to deal with Hamas. He plans to discuss this perspective in more detail with Israeli counterparts in the following week.

Meanwhile, European Union leaders unanimously called for an “immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza” on the previous evening. The vote on the U.S.-sponsored resolution demonstrates an increased international push to end the escalating conflict in the region.