The UN’s decision to cease fire in Gaza

The United Nations Security Council adopted on Monday its first resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza. Two words that had obstructed an earlier draft resolution were absent and two words were added that had succeeded in passing the resolution.

The most important items of the resolution that Washington abstained in the voting and did not use the veto to allow for its passage:

The Council demands “an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan, respected by all parties, leading to a lasting and sustainable ceasefire”.

The previous US draft resolution stated “the urgent need for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire to protect civilians by all parties and unequivocally supports international diplomatic efforts to achieve such a ceasefire in conjunction with the release of all remaining hostages”.

However, Russia, China and Algeria viewed the resolution not as explicitly demanding a ceasefire but as “the need to do so”, which meant giving Israel the space to continue hostilities.

But the new resolution stated: “The Council demands an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan that is respected by all parties, leading to a lasting and sustainable ceasefire”, which means that there is no room for any party to interpret the resolution according to its priorities.

The US decision dropped by Russian-Chinese veto linked the immediate ceasefire to the release of Hamas hostages.

The new resolution also called for the release of all hostages captured but did not link this request to a ceasefire during Ramadan.

UN Security Council adopts resolution for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Security Council awaits US position on resolution on Gaza
After more than five months of war, the United Nations Security Council adopted its first resolution on Monday calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza. The United States abstained from voting after earlier attempts to pass a resolution by veto.

The resolution, endorsed by 14 members in exchange for one member’s abstention, “demands an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan”, which began two weeks ago, provided that it “leads to a permanent ceasefire”, and “demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

The United States did not veto the resolution and abstained in the vote as the first ceasefire resolution adopted by the Council after four previous failures.