On Monday, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution aimed at achieving a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza through a phased approach. This United States-drafted resolution calls for Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal announced on May 31 by President Joe Biden, which has already been accepted by Israel.
Following the vote, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated to Security Council members, "Today, we voted for peace."
The resolution, adopted with 14 votes in favor and Russia abstaining, urges both Israel and Palestine to implement the terms of the proposal "without delay and without condition."
President Biden described the deal as "not just a ceasefire that would inevitably be fragile and temporary" but one that aims to provide a "durable end to the war." He added that the terms of the deal had been conveyed by Qatar to Hamas leadership.
The deal includes three phases:
Phase One: An immediate, full, and complete ceasefire, the release of hostages including women, the elderly, and the wounded, the return of the remains of some deceased hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners. It also calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, the return of Palestinians to their homes throughout the enclave, and the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance.
Phase Two: A permanent end to hostilities in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the region.
Phase Three: The initiation of a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to Israel.
The resolution also emphasizes that if negotiations for phase one take longer than six weeks, the ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations are ongoing.
Additionally, the Security Council rejects any attempts at demographic or territorial changes in the Gaza Strip, including actions that reduce the enclave's territory. The resolution reiterates the Council’s commitment to a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions. It stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield emphasized that the international community is united behind a deal that will save lives, help Palestinian civilians in Gaza rebuild, and reunite hostages with their families after months in captivity. She noted that there is now an opportunity to chart a new course, and the US will ensure Israel meets its obligations, provided Hamas accepts the deal.
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