The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a non-binding resolution on Monday calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The resolution also called on Hamas terrorists to immediately and unconditionally release all hostages, including Americans.
Security council resolution called The ceasefire will last until the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, which ends on April 9, 2024, and is expected to last for two weeks.
The resolution emphasized “the urgent need to scale up the flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians across the Gaza Strip and strengthen the protection of civilians.”
The resolution calls for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and ensuring humanitarian access to meet medical and other humanitarian needs.”
Hamas still maintains around 100 lives hostage. The exact number is unknown, as Hamas has repeatedly refused to provide a list of prisoners. The UNSC resolution went like this do not have The details of establishing a ceasefire on the condition that the terrorists give up their hostages, or blaming Hamas for taking them in the first place, immediately infuriated the Israeli government.
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The resolution passed 14-0, with the United States abstaining rather than exercising its veto power, as Russia and China routinely use their veto power to protect their allies. Four previous attempts to pass a ceasefire resolution have failed.
Russia tried Efforts to amend the resolution to make the ceasefire permanent rather than ending after Ramadan failed.
“Those who protect Israel still want to give it freedom,” Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia complained after the resolution was passed with only a temporary ceasefire on the agenda.
British Ambassador Barbara Woodward criticized the Security Council for not speaking out against Hamas’ atrocities, but said the government supported the resolution because a humanitarian cessation of fighting was essential.
“We regret that this resolution does not condemn the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on October 7,” she said.
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun said the new resolution is “clear and directionally correct” as it calls for an “immediate ceasefire”, unlike the “evasive and ambiguous” draft supported by the United States.
Zhang said China had pressured the Biden administration to recognize that it could no longer oppose the Security Council’s ceasefire call.
“Today’s board resolution is too late for the lives already lost,” he said.
Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan said it was “shameful” that the Security Council passed such a resolution without condemning Hamas. He pointed out harshly that the Security Council appeared to be far less concerned about the October 7 rape and murder of Israeli civilians by Hamas operatives, including young people who were brutally massacred at a music festival. .
“Civilians have the right to enjoy music in safety and security, regardless of where they live, and the Security Council must have the moral clarity to condemn such acts of terrorism equally and without discrimination. ” he said.
Erdan noted that the Security Council has remained silent about the “thousands of indiscriminate rockets and missiles” that Hamas has fired against Israeli civilians during the current conflict and for years before. . But he was glad that the resolution at least mustered some moral clarity to declare that taking hostages was wrong.
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“When it comes to the return of hostages, the Security Council must not settle for words alone, but must take action, real action,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancel A high-level Israeli delegation visits Washington after the US abstained from voting on the cease-fire resolution. White House Press Secretary John Kirby called Netanyahu’s decision “unfortunate.”
“We are very disappointed that they will not be coming to Washington, D.C., to have a fruitful conversation with us about viable alternatives to ground operations in Rafah,” Kirby said, adding that Israel’s He mentioned plans to attack Israel. Hamas positions in Rafah, Gaza.
“Nothing has changed our view that a large-scale ground attack in Rafah was a huge mistake,” Kirby told reporters.
