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UN Security Council supports US-Israeli cease-fire proposal in Gaza



The US-proposed Israel-Gaza ceasefire agreement has received endorsement from the UN Security Council in a vote.


It lays forth requirements for a "full and complete ceasefire," the repatriation of murdered hostages' remains, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and the swapping of Palestinian detainees.


The US was one of the 15 members of the Security Council that voted in favor of the resolution. Russia didn't vote. The resolution calls on Hamas to endorse the ceasefire plan and declares that Israel has approved it. Netanyahu balances his demands for a ceasefire in Gaza with US demands. The three-phase plan would culminate in a comprehensive restoration strategy for Gaza, which has been mostly devastated by the fighting.


A temporary truce and a hostage-prisoner exchange are part of the plan's initial phase.


According to a draft resolution from the US, the second phase calls for a "permanent end to hostilities" and the complete departure of Israeli soldiers from Gaza. The third stage would begin a multiyear rehabilitation plan for Gaza and concentrate on the enclave's long-term prospects. Weeks after President Joe Biden said that the Israelis had consented to a three-phase plan that would lead to an ongoing truce in Gaza, a conclusion was reached on Monday.


Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has openly criticized many provisions of the resolution and has said time and time again that he intends to carry out military operations until Hamas is destroyed. The resolution was mentioned on President Biden's X, previously Twitter, account. The message said, "Hamas says it wants a ceasefire." "This arrangement is an opportunity to prove them mean it." "Today we as a species voted for peace," said US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.


"Catastrophic" is how UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward put it, adding that "suffering has gone on for far too long" in Gaza. "We call upon those involved to seize this opportunity and move towards a long-term settlement which guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli as well as Palestinian people," added Ms. Woodward. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution requesting a cease-fire on March 25. Although it has vetoed such motions in the past, the US did not do so with the March resolution.


At the time, Mr. Netanyahu said that the US had "abandoned" its earlier stance that connected the release of captives with a truce. On October 7, Hamas launched an offensive on southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and kidnapping approximately 251 more. This marked the start of the war. Since Israel retaliated against its strike, the number of deaths in Gaza, according to the health ministry operated by Hamas, has topped 37,000.

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