06/10/2024June 10, 2024
UN Security Council to vote on US’ Gaza cease-fire proposal
The Security Council will vote Monday on a resolution tabled by the to back a US proposal for a cease-fire between in the .
The three-phase cease-fire plan was initially laid out at the end of May and was described by President Joe Biden as an “Israeli initiative.”
On his current visit to the region, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has claimed that Israel accepts the plan, but not all Security Council members are convinced.
The draft resolution welcomes the cease-fire proposal, which it says “Israel accepted,” a key change from earlier drafts. It “calls upon Hamas to also accept it and urges both parties to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.”
Under the proposal, would withdraw from Gaza’s population centers and Hamas would free hostages. The cease-fire would last an initial six weeks and could be extended as negotiators seek a permanent end to hostilities.
Furthermore, the draft states that “if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, the ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.”
The resolution’s text was finalized on Sunday after a week of negotiations among the 15 members of the Security Council. To pass, a resolution requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, China or Russia. China’s and Russia’s positions on the draft remain unclear.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told a regional radio station on Monday: “So far, there are positive signals. We hope that this proposal is accepted.”
Nate Evans, spokesman for the US delegation, said on Sunday: “Council members should not let this opportunity pass by and must speak with one voice in support of this deal.”
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