Russia Absolute, UN Security Council Supports Israel-Hamas Armistice Plan

Voting on the UN Security Council. (Twitter/@UN_News_Centre)

JAKARTA - The United Nations Security Council on Monday supported a proposal for an Israeli-Hamas ceasefire in the Gaza Strip promoted by US President Joe Biden, urging Palestinian militants to accept an agreement aimed at ending the eight-month war.

A total of 14 UN DK members voted for a resolution in favor of a three-phase ceasefire plan set by President Biden on May 31. Meanwhile, Russia chose abstain from the vote.

"Today we voted for peace," US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council after the vote.

The resolution welcomes a new ceasefire proposal, states Israel has accepted it, asks Hamas to agree to it, and "encourages both parties to fully implement its provisions without delay and unconditionally."

The resolution also detailed the proposal and explained that "if negotiations last longer than six weeks for the first phase, the ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations continue."

Hamas welcomed the US-designed implementation of the resolution, saying in a statement they were ready to cooperate with mediators in implementing the principles of the plan "which are consistent with the demands of the people and our resistance."

#BREAKINGUN Security Council ADOPTS resolution on ceasefire, hostage release in Gaza; calls on Hamas to accept proposal that has been accepted by IsraelVoting resultIn favor: 14Against: 0Abstain: 1 (Russia) pic.twitter.com/rPjKb4rKnt

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) June 10, 2024

#BREAKUN Security Council ADOPTS resolution on ceasefire, hostage release in Gaza; calls on Hamas to accept proposal that has been received by IsraelVoting resultIn fat: 14Against: 0Abstain: 1 (Russia) pic.twitter.com/rPjKb4rKnt

Meanwhile, Algeria, the only Arab member on the council, supports the resolution as "we believe it could be a step forward to an immediate and lasting ceasefire," Algerian Ambassador to the United Nations Amar Bendjama told the council.

"This provides a glimmer of hope for Palestine. It's time to stop killings," he said.

However, the resolution did not contain enough details for Moscow. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia asked what Israel specifically agreed to, saying the Security Council should not have signed an agreement with "an unclear parameter."

"We don't want to block the resolution just because as far as we understand, the resolution is supported by the Arab world," Ambassador Nebenzia told the council.

Meanwhile, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan attended the vote, but did not deliver a speech before the council. On the other hand, senior Israeli diplomat to the United Nations Reut Shapir Ben Naftaly told the council that Israel's goal in Gaza is always clear.

"Israel is committed to these goals - freeing all hostages, destroying the capabilities of the Hamas military and government, and ensuring that Gaza is not a threat to Israel in the future," he said.

"Hamas is what prevents this war from ending. Hamas and Hamas themselves," he accused.

More than 1.200 people were killed and more than 250 people held hostage by Hamas on October 7, according to Israeli tallies. More than 100 hostages are believed to be still being held in Gaza.

Separately, health authorities in Gaza announced on Monday that the death toll of Palestinians since the war broke out on October 7, 2023 has reached 37,124, while 84,712 others were injured, quoted from WAFA.

The council in March demanded an immediate ceasefire and unconditional release of all hostages detained by Hamas.

For months, negotiators from the US, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a ceasefire. Hamas said it wanted to end the war in the Gaza Strip permanently, with Israel pulling out of the 2.3 million-man enclave.