United Nations Security Council passes US-backed Israel-Hamas ceasefire proposal

The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution backing a proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on Monday. Washington hopes that, now that the UN backs the proposal, Israel will be pressured into moving forward with it.

After blocking several UN draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, US President and staunch ally of Israel Joe Biden on 31 May launched his own ceasefire and hostage release proposal. The three-phase plan, initially put forward by Israel and later backed by the US, would begin with an immediate, temporary cease-fire and work toward a permanent end to the war and the reconstruction of Gaza. At the request of the United States, the United Nations Security Council voted on and approved the resolution on Monday. 

The UN Security Council vote comes as Biden struggles to gain the unequivocal backing of Israel or Hamas. It’s already been two weeks since Israel presented the US-backed deal to Hamas, but so far no official response. Even Netanyahu’s own government has not formally embraced it, as the Israeli prime minister has increasingly come under pressure from far-right members of his government. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is therefore visiting the Middle East, his eight trip since 7 October, to further push all the country’s partners towards supporting the deal. “My message to governments throughout the region, to people throughout the region, is if you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say yes,” he told reporters upon leaving for Israel.

It was not immediately clear whether Russia and China would veto the draft, which needs nine votes and no vetoes to pass. Even now that the resolution passed, there is no indication that it will persuade Israel or Hamas to move forward with the cease-fire proposal. The departure of Benny Gantz from Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet is complicating the ceasefire negotiations while, at the same time, tensions are on the rise with Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

^{US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to reporters ahead of leaving Egypt for Israel to push for a much awaited Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. © Amr Nabil / POOL / AFP}