In a significant move towards peace, the United Nations Security Council has adopted a cease-fire resolution aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
The U.N. Security Council on June 10 approved its first resolution. The vote on the U.S.-sponsored resolution was 14-0, with Russia abstaining.
The resolution welcomes a cease-fire proposal announced by President Joe Biden, which the United States says Israel has accepted. It calls on Hamas, which initially said it viewed the proposal “positively,” to accept the three-phase plan.
The first phase involves a six-week ceasefire. During this time, Israeli forces will leave all populated areas of Gaza. Some hostages, including elderly people and women, will be freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Palestinian civilians will be allowed to return to their homes in Gaza, and 600 trucks a day will bring humanitarian aid into the heavily damaged area.
In this phase, Hamas and Israel would work on negotiating a permanent ceasefire. President Biden said this ceasefire would continue “as long as Hamas keeps its promises.” If these negotiations take longer than six weeks, the temporary ceasefire would be extended until they are finished.
Now in the said all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, would be released. Israeli forces would leave Gaza, and the permanent ceasefire would start.
In the last phase which is the third phase, would involve a big reconstruction plan for Gaza and returning the last remains of hostages to their families.
Now this particular resolution urges Israel and Hamas “to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.”
The war started with Hamas’ surprise attack in southern Israel on October 7, which killed about 1,200 people, mainly Israeli civilians, and resulted in about 250 others being taken hostage. About 120 hostages remain, with 43 pronounced dead.
Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 36,700 Palestinians and wounded over 83,000 others, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It has also destroyed about 80% of Gaza’s buildings, according to the U.N.
The Security Council adopted a resolution on March 25 demanding a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ended on April 9, with the U.S. abstaining. However, the war continued despite the resolution.
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