UN Security Council Adopts Resolution Supporting US-Led 'Gaza 3-Phase Ceasefire Plan'

The United Nations (UN) Security Council held an emergency meeting on the 10th (local time) and adopted a resolution supporting the US-led three-phase ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip.

According to the UN, at the meeting chaired by Hwang Jun-guk, South Korea's permanent representative to the UN and the Security Council president for June, the resolution was adopted with 14 votes in favor and Russia abstaining among the 15 Security Council member states. For a resolution to pass the Security Council, it must receive at least nine votes in favor out of the 15 members, and none of the five permanent members?the US, China, Russia, the UK, and France?must exercise their veto power.

The resolution, drafted by the US, calls on the Palestinian armed faction Hamas to accept the three-phase ceasefire plan and demands that both Israel and Hamas implement the terms unconditionally and without delay.

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, US President Joe Biden held an emergency press conference to unveil the three-phase ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip. The plan consists of: ▲ a six-week complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas within Gaza, and partial hostage exchanges ▲ exchange of all surviving hostages and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, leading to a permanent cessation of hostilities ▲ initiation of Gaza reconstruction and return of the bodies of deceased hostages.

Accordingly, if the agreement is implemented, the US explained that immediate ceasefire and hostage release, the first-phase withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas, immediate expansion of humanitarian aid and restoration of basic services, return of Palestinian residents to northern Gaza, a roadmap to end the crisis, and a multi-year international support reconstruction plan would become possible.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, said after the resolution's adoption, "The Security Council has sent a clear message to Hamas to accept the ceasefire negotiation plan," adding, "Israel has already agreed to the plan, and if Hamas agrees, the fighting could stop as soon as today."

Amar Benyamina, Algeria's permanent representative to the UN and the only Arab member of the Security Council, emphasized, "While the wording of this resolution is not perfect, it offers a faint hope as an alternative to the ongoing killing and suffering of the Palestinian people," and stressed, "Now is the time to stop the killing."