US urges UN to back 'immediate' Gaza ceasefire for hostage release
Photo: US forces UN Security Council to support immediate Gaza ceasefire to free hostages (Getty Images)
The United States of America (USA) has revised the wording in the draft resolution of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) with the aim of supporting the "immediate" cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, where the Israel Defense Forces are conducting a military operation against Hamas militants in order to free hostages, reports Reuters.
According to the text of the document received by the agency, it calls for "an immediate ceasefire of roughly six-weeks in Gaza together with the release of all hostages."
It is noted that the third revision of the text, initially proposed by Washington two weeks ago, now reflects sharp remarks from Vice President Kamala Harris. The initial US draft demonstrated support for a "temporary cessation of hostilities" in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The United States aims for any UN Security Council support for a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave to be linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, captured by militants during a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7th of last year.
UN resolution projects
Prior to this, Washington vetoed three UN Security Council resolution projects, two of which demanded an immediate ceasefire during the five-month-long conflict. Recently, the US justified its veto by claiming that such actions by the Council could jeopardize the efforts of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar aimed at ending the war and freeing hostages.
As stated earlier on Tuesday by US President Joe Biden, it now depends on Hamas whether to accept the ceasefire agreement, as the delegations have been in negotiations for a third day without any signs of a breakthrough.
The source also notes that Washington is increasing pressure on Israel to encourage it to do more to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, it is mentioned that the United States previously stated that they plan to allow time for negotiations on their project and will not rush to vote. For the resolution to be adopted, at least nine votes in favor are required, and there must be no veto from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, or China.
Israel and Hamas conflict
On October 7, 2023, militants from the terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel from the Gaza Strip.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated a ground military operation in the Gaza Strip at the end of October, which is ongoing. The Prime Minister of the country, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that the goal of the operation is the complete destruction of Hamas and the release of hostages.
On February 8, Netanyahu declared that a complete victory for the IDF is imminent. He also announced the readiness of the IDF to launch a ground invasion into the city of Rafah near the border with Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip.
Earlier, we reported that, according to the National Security Advisor to the US President, Jake Sullivan, the United States hopes for a ceasefire.
Additionally, the director of the CIA, William Burns, recently expressed the opinion that Israel and Hamas are close to a ceasefire.
