The United Nations Security Council issued a strong call on 25 March for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
They also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
This marks the first time the UN Security Council had called for a ceasefire since the war started in October, after several failed attempts.
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The resolution, proposed by the council’s 10 elected members, received overwhelming support from 14 out of the 15 council members.
Algeria’s Ambassador to the UN, Amar Bendjama, told the council after the vote, “The Palestinian people have suffered greatly. This bloodbath has continued for far too long. It is our obligation to put an end to this bloodbath, before it is too late.”
“This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres posted on social media platform X.
However, the United States abstained from the vote, marking a significant departure from its previous stance of shielding Israel from similar resolutions.
Resolution was Welcomed but “Overdue”
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian representative to the UN, expressed a cautious welcome to the resolution but underscored its belated nature.
“It has taken six long months, with over 100,000 Palestinians killed and maimed, two million displaced, and the looming threat of famine, for this council to finally demand an immediate ceasefire,” Mr Mansour remarked.
Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist organisation that governs Gaza and initiated the conflict with an unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7, also expressed approval of the resolution.
It indicated its readiness “to initiate an immediate process of exchanging prisoners that results in the release of detainees on both sides.”
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US Abstains from Vote
Previously, Washington had been averse to the word “ceasefire” and had wielded its veto power to block similar resolutions, citing its unwavering support for Israel’s right to self-defence after the initial attack on 7 October.
However, with mounting international pressure for a ceasefire in the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of over 32,000 Palestinians, the United States chose to abstain from the 25 March vote.
This decision enabled the Security Council to call for an immediate ceasefire, particularly significant as it coincided with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, slated to conclude in two weeks.
US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, reiterated America’s commitment to achieving a ceasefire through diplomatic means, “because we know that it is only through diplomacy that we can push this agenda forward,” she had said.
Ms Thomas-Greenfield also said the US abstained from the vote because it did not agree with everything in the resolution and the text did not include a condemnation of Hamas.
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“A ceasefire can begin immediately with the release of the first hostage, and so we must put pressure on Hamas to do just that,” she said.
It is said that Hamas had taken 253 hostages during its attack on 7 October. Of the individuals captured, 130 remain unaccounted for despite a sequence of releases, rescue operations, and the retrieval of deceased individuals.
Israel Prime Minister’s Strong Rebuke
Israel expressed strong dissatisfaction with the resolution, arguing that it failed to address key concerns, particularly regarding the release of hostages.
“It was the Hamas massacre that started this war,” said Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan. “The resolution just voted upon makes it seem as if the war started by itself … Israel did not start this war, nor did Israel want this war.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement criticising the US abstention, accusing the country of abandoning its previous position on the ceasefire-hostage linkage.
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The statement highlighted Israel’s determination to continue its military operations in Gaza until all hostages are safely released.
Additionally, it is reported by the Israeli army radio that Prime Minister Netanyahu opted to cancel scheduled meetings between an Israeli delegation and US officials in Washington for the current week.
The anticipated high-level delegation was set to journey to Washington to deliberate on a proposed Israeli military initiative in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where over a million Palestinians have sought refuge.
Responding to inquiries regarding Israel’s abrupt withdrawal from the scheduled meeting, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby expressed disappointment.
Nevertheless, Kirby affirmed that the United States would address its apprehensions regarding Israel’s actions within the framework of continuous dialogues between the two nations.
“We look forward to making it clear to the defence minister that the United States continues to stand with Israel as they fight Hamas,” he told the press on 25 March.
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The Way Forward
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed the sentiments of the Security Council, urging all parties to implement the resolution without delay.
The Security Council resolution also requires the enhancement of the distribution of humanitarian aid and bolster the safeguarding of civilians throughout the entirety of the Gaza Strip. It reiterates its call for the removal of all impediments to the delivery of humanitarian assistance on a large scale.
The resolution’s passage drew mixed reactions from the international community. While many hailed it as a positive step towards ending the conflict, others expressed concerns about its effectiveness in addressing the root causes of the violence.
Russia and China, two permanent members of the Security Council, have previously vetoed two similar resolutions on the Gaza conflict, in October and on 22 March.
As the situation in Gaza continues to escalate, the international community faces mounting pressure to find a lasting solution that addresses the grievances of both sides.
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However, the Security Council’s resolution represents a significant diplomatic effort to bring an end to the violence and pave the way for renewed peace negotiations.
An emotional Riyad Mansour told the Security Council after the vote, “This must be a turning point. This must lead to saving lives on the ground.”
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