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| Children climb over debris Sunday in the Nuseirat camp, in the central Gaza Strip, a day after an operation by Israeli special forces. |
U.N. Security Council Passes U.S.-Drafted Cease-Fire Deal for Israel and Hamas
The United Nations Security Council has approved a U.S.-drafted cease-fire resolution aimed at ending eight months of intense fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Resolution Approval
The resolution, which President Joe Biden endorsed, was finalized on Sunday after nearly a week of negotiations among the 15-member council. To pass, it required at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the five permanent members with veto power: the U.S., France, Britain, China, or Russia.
Voting Outcome
China did not block the resolution, and Russia abstained from voting. "Today, we voted for peace," stated U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Previous Vetoes
In March, China and Russia vetoed a previous Gaza cease-fire resolution, arguing it would permit Israel to attack the city of Rafah. Prior to that, the U.S. vetoed three draft resolutions, two of which called for an immediate cease-fire.
Proposed Plan and Hostage Release
On May 31, Biden announced that Israel had proposed a three-part plan aimed at achieving a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and securing the release of hostages taken since October 7, when Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel.
Casualties
According to Gaza health authorities, Israeli forces have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, including thousands of women and children, since the conflict began.
U.S. Mission Statement
Nate Evans, spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the U.N., emphasized the importance of the Security Council's pressure on Hamas to accept the proposal. “Israel has accepted this proposal and the Security Council has an opportunity to speak with one voice and call on Hamas to do the same,” he said.
Israeli Response
Despite the resolution's passage, there are indications that Israel may have reservations about fully endorsing the proposal.
The dramatic rescue of four hostages on Saturday has bolstered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's resolve to continue the Gaza invasion rather than agree to a cease-fire, a senior Biden administration official told NBC News on Sunday.
In contrast, Hamas issued a statement expressing its approval of the Security Council resolution calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.
Concerns had been raised that the high number of Palestinian civilian casualties from the Israeli rescue raid might harden the stance of Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar against the cease-fire proposal, despite pressure from Qatar and Egypt.
The European Union welcomed the resolution, urging both parties to accept and implement the three-phase proposal.
Phases of the Resolution
**Phase One:** The U.N. calls for an immediate, complete cease-fire, the release of hostages (including women, the elderly, and the wounded), the return of the remains of deceased hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.
**Phase Two:** This phase seeks a permanent end to hostilities, the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
**Phase Three:** This phase involves initiating a multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of any remaining deceased hostages' remains to Israel.
The resolution emphasizes that the cease-fire will persist as long as negotiations continue and rejects any attempts at demographic or territorial changes in Gaza.
Key Developments
As the Security Council began its vote on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel to meet with retired General Benny Gantz. Gantz, a centrist member of Israel’s war Cabinet, resigned on Sunday, accusing Netanyahu of mismanaging the war and failing to plan for Gaza’s future post-conflict. The Biden administration had encouraged Gantz to remain in the government to prevent Netanyahu from relying more heavily on far-right coalition members who oppose any cease-fire with Hamas.
Before his departure, Blinken told reporters in Cairo that the decision on government composition is up to the Israelis. He warned that without a cease-fire, three negative scenarios could unfold: Israel might have to stay in Gaza, leading to further conflict; a prolonged insurgency could ensue; or Hamas could return, resulting in chaos and lawlessness.
Since the conflict began on October 7, Israel reports that over 1,200 people have been killed and more than 250 taken hostage by Hamas. Over 100 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, including five Americans: Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Omer Neutra, and Keith Siegel.
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