UN Security Council passes resolution calling for immediate Gaza ceasefire

by gajan
Mar 25, 2024

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the United States abstained from the vote.

Resolution 2728 was proposed by 10 elected members of the council, 14 council members voted in favour.

The resolution demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, which will end in two weeks. Additionally, it called on Hamas to enact the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

The Security Council just approved a long-awaited resolution on Gaza, demanding an immediate ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable.

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 25, 2024

Hamas has welcomed the UNSC resolution, however, the group has emphasized the necessity of a permanent ceasefire that will ultimately lead to the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza.

Basem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau welcomes the resolution but notes that the release of the more than 7,000 Palestinians being detained by Israel is necessary.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Naim says “We have at least 7,000 Palestinians kidnapped by the Israelis and we consider them all hostages. If it has to come to release the hostages, it has to be applied to both sides.”

Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir says “the United Nations is a wasteland” in reaction to the UN Security Council vote.

US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that the US abstained from the vote because the US request to add a condemnation of Hamas was ignored. The White House says that its abstention from the UNSC resolution for a ceasefire does not represent a shift in its policy towards Gaza. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled a delegation in Washington to discuss the planned ground invasion of Rafah. Netanyahu accused the US of hurting Israel’s war effort after failing to veto the UNSC ceasefire resolution.

As the UNSC resolution was approved, Israel continued to besiege Al-Amal Hospital and Al-Naser Hospital.

At least 32,333 Palestinians have been killed and 74,694 wounded in Israeli attacks against Gaza since 7 October. The death toll in Israel from the Hamas attack stands at 1,139 with dozens being held as hostages.

Read more here and here. 

 

 

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