UN Security Council Adopts US Resolution Backing Gaza Truce

(Bloomberg) -- The United Nations Security Council adopted a US-crafted resolution endorsing its cease-fire plan for the Israel-Hamas war, a push that’s part of Washington’s wide campaign to keep up momentum for a proposal that neither side has fully committed to.

The resolution passed 14-0 on Monday with Russia abstaining. It welcomed the US-backed truce proposal announced by President Joe Biden on May 31, and urged Hamas to accept it — while stating Israel has already done so. It also called on all UN members to support its implementation.

“The fighting could stop today,” US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. “Hamas can now see that the international community is united.”

In a statement after the vote, Hamas welcomed the adoption of the resolution and emphasized its “readiness to cooperate” with the mediators on implementing a permanent cease-fire. Israeli diplomat Reut Shapir Ben-Naftaly, in turn, told the Security Council that “Israel will not engage in meaningless, endless negotiations which can be exploited by Hamas as a means to stall for time.”

The vote comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Middle East in a push to revive the three-phase cease-fire plan publicly endorsed by the Biden administration. Both sides have resisted the effort, which would begin with a temporary truce and hostage-prisoner exchanges and eventually lead to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

While Hamas, which is labeled a terrorist group by the US and the European Union, is seeking a permanent cease-fire, Israel wants a temporary pause that could see hostages freed but allow the country to follow through on its goal of wiping out the militant group, which is considered a terrorist group by the US.

The Security Council has mostly taken the back seat since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October, as deep divisions at the world body have kept it from taking more decisive action on the war. The US blocked multiple cease-fire calls until it finally let one slide almost six months after the conflict began — which has so far not translated into action on the ground. 

The US resolution also reiterated the Security Council’s “unwavering commitment” to a two-state solution to the conflict, and rejected any attempt by Israel to reduce the Palestinian territory. 

(Updates with Hamas, Israeli statement in fourth paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

©2024 Bloomberg L.P.