The United Nations Security Council passed a United States-drafted resolution urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to and implement the ceasefire proposal announced by President Joe Biden late last month.
Fourteen members of the 15-member body voted in favor of the resolution on Monday, with one abstention from Russia. The vote represents the international community’s view that the war should come to an end.
The resolution states that Israel has “accepted” the deal and “calls upon” Hamas to do the same. It also “urges both parties to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.”
“Today, this council sent a clear message to Hamas: Accept the ceasefire deal on the table. Israel has already agreed to this deal, and the fighting could stop today if Hamas would do the same. I repeat, the fighting could stop today,” said Linda Thomas Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
A statement from Hamas in the aftermath of the vote read: “Hamas emphasizes its readiness to cooperate with the mediators to engage in indirect negotiations on implementing these principles that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance. We in the Hamas Movement also stress continuation of our endeavor and struggle with all our people to achieve their national rights, foremost of which is defeating the occupation and establishing their independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, along with the right of return and self-determination.”
Israel came up with the proposal that Biden announced on May 31, and U.S. officials have repeatedly said since then that the onus is on Hamas to agree to this deal to halt the war.
The first phase of the ceasefire would last for about six weeks and would include the return of women, children, and other vulnerable hostages Hamas is holding; the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel; withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas of Gaza; and the surging of humanitarian aid into the strip. The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza altogether.
Israel has been unwilling to any ceasefire proposal that would keep Hamas intact and in power in Gaza, while Hamas has demanded that any deal include a complete and total end of the war. It remains unclear exactly how the proposal Biden recently outlined publicly would solve those competing stances.
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Over the weekend, Israeli forces conducted an operation that resulted in the rescue of four hostages who had been held by Hamas since Oct. 7, though hundreds of Palestinians were killed as well, according to local officials under Hamas control.
It’s unclear exactly how the rescue mission could affect a possible ceasefire deal.