UN Security Council Passes Resolution Affirming Biden-Proposed Gaza Cease-fire Deal

by

The Biden administration has insisted the cease-fire proposal is in line with the latest terms Israeli negotiators have offered Hamas.

The United Nations Security Council voted on Monday in favor of a U.S.-led resolution affirming a Gaza cease-fire proposal, President Joe Biden announced on May 31.

Thirteen members of the 15-member Security Council voted alongside the U.S. delegation in favor of the deal. Russia, which is one of four permanent members on the Security Council with veto power, abstained from the vote.

According to President Biden, phase one of the deal would last at least six weeks, and see “a full and complete cease-fire; a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza; a release of a number of hostages—including women, the elderly, the wounded—in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.”

He said phase one of the deal also includes measures to ensure up to 600 truckloads of food reach the Gaza Strip daily.

President Biden said phase two of the plan would be contingent on continued negotiations, but that the peace established in phase one would hold beyond six weeks, so long as negotiations continue. If those negotiations succeed, he said phase two would entail the Hamas terrorist group releasing its remaining captives; a group that would consist of male Israeli military members. He said if this final hostage release succeeds, Israel will withdraw from the Gaza Strip altogether and the ceasefire will become permanent.

The president said the third and final phase of the cease-fire plan would involve the beginning of reconstruction in the embattled Gaza Strip and would include Hamas turning over the remains of any deceased hostages.

Related Stories

Blinken Visits Egypt, Israel to Reinforce Gaza Cease-fire Negotiations
Tens of Thousands Join ‘Walk With Israel’ in Toronto

The Biden administration has insisted the cease-fire proposal he described on May 31 is in line with the latest terms Israeli negotiators have offered Hamas.

Despite some public grumblings among Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet members, the Biden administration has insisted the Israeli side is fully on board with the cease-fire proposal, and that it’s now on Hamas to accept the terms and enable a cessation of hostilities.

“Today, this council sent a clear message to Hamas: accept the ceasefire deal on the table,” U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas Greenfield said following the Monday afternoon vote.

Past efforts to halt the current Gaza conflict have divided the 15-member Security Council.

The U.S. delegation used its veto power as one of five permanent members of the Security Council to block an Algerian-led cease-fire resolution in February.
On March 22, the Chinese and Russian delegations vetoed a U.S.-led Security Council resolution that called a Gaza cease-fire “imperative,“ but which the Chinese and Russian delegations argued was not strong enough. Three days later, on March 25, the United States was the lone abstention from a vote on another ceasefire resolution, allowing it to pass in the Security Council.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Original News Source Link – Epoch Times

Running For Office? Conservative Campaign Consulting – Election Day Strategies!