UNITED NATIONS: As part of a vigorous diplomatic effort by Washington to persuade Hamas to embrace the idea, the UN Security Council on Monday approved a resolution crafted by the US that supports a ceasefire plan in Gaza.
Passed with 14 votes in favor and Russia abstaining, the text calls on “parties to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition” and “welcomes” the truce and hostage release proposal that President Joe Biden presented on May 31.
According to the resolution, Israel has agreed to the terms of the truce and “calls upon Hamas to also accept it.”
In a statement, Hamas stated that it “welcomes the Security Council resolution… (and) would like to reaffirm its readiness to cooperate with the brother mediators to enter into indirect negotiations regarding the implementation of these principles.” The demands of Hamas include a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the region.
The United States, an ardent supporter of Israel, has faced harsh criticism for its obstruction of multiple prior UN draft resolutions advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. However, Biden started a fresh US endeavor late last month to obtain a ceasefire and captive release.
Following the UN meeting, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield declared, “Today, we voted for peace.”
An “immediate, full and complete ceasefire,” the exchange of prisoners, and the “withdrawal of Israeli forces from the populated areas in Gaza” were all part of the first phase of the truce. Additionally, this would make it possible to “distribute humanitarian aid at scale, safely and effectively, throughout the Gaza Strip to all Palestinian civilians in need.”
On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
His visit follows US President Joe Biden’s May 31 announcement of Israel’s three-phase ceasefire proposal, which calls for the reconstruction of Gaza, the release of Palestinian and Israeli prisoners, and an end to hostilities permanently.
American detainees
If Israeli ceasefire negotiations fail, US authorities have explored striking a unilateral agreement with Hamas to free five US captives detained in Gaza, according to NBC News story published on Monday.
The article, which quoted two current and two former US officials, did not specify what the US may offer Hamas in return. According to NBC, the US claims that Hamas is detaining five Americans who were kidnapped during the organization’s Oct. 7 invasion inside Israel.
“The best way, the most effective way to get everyone home, including the American hostages, is through this proposal, is through the ceasefire deal that’s on the table right now,” Antony Blinken responded when questioned about the news as he was leaving Cairo.
The unnamed officials, who have all been informed on the negotiations, told NBC that any unilateral talks would take place through Qatari negotiators and would not include Israel.
According to the authorities, Hamas would be motivated to make a deal with Washington because it would further sour relations between the US and Israel and put more pressure on the Israeli prime minister, who has come under fire at home for not doing more to free the captives.
