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The UN (United Nations) Security Council overwhelmingly approved their first resolution adopting a hostage-for-ceasefire deal in Gaza on Monday. This resolution aims to end the ongoing eight-month war in Gaza between the terrorist organization Hamas and Israel.
US President Joe Biden announced this resolution on May 31 of this year, and the US-sponsored it. The UN has endorsed and voted on the US-backed resolution. President Biden said this resolution was presented to him by Israel. The United States has said their ally, Israel, has accepted the deal. The resolution calls on the terrorist organization Hamas to accept the three-phase plan.
All eyes of the US, Israel, and the UN are on Hamas, which has rejected the majority of the ceasefire deals. These deals were proposed by the UN, Israel, the ICJ (International Court of Justice), and other parties. Hamas’ decision has cost Gaza and the Palestinians.
Here’s How The UN Security Council Voted
There are 15 Security Council members in the UN. The resolution was overwhelmingly approved by 14 of the 15 Security Council members. The only one to abstain from voting was Russia. The Security Council calls on Hamas and Israel to “fully implement its terms and without delay and conditions.”
It’s questionable whether Israel or Hamas will go forward with the plans mentioned in the resolution. History has shown that it is not in Hamas’ nature to stick to resolutions. However, the strong support of the resolution by 14 members puts pressure on both parties to approve the proposal. It should be noted that the Security Council is the UN’s most powerful body.
Here’s what Biden’s Three-Phase Plan Includes
The US president detailed the three-phase plan on Friday, May 31. He said that the deal was proposed by Israel to Hamas. He also said that this deal would release the remaining hostages still held captive in Gaza. The President called the proposal “a road map to an enduring cease-fire and the release of all hostages.” The UN adopting the proposal is a very good sign.
According to Biden, the first phase of the proposed deal would last for six weeks. And would include a full ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza. It would also include the release of hostages, including women, the elderly, and the wounded, in exchange for the hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
In this stage, American hostages would also be released, and the bodies of dead hostages would be returned to their families. Humanitarian aid would increase during the first stage, with 600 trucks each day.
It should be noted that there are 120 hostages still held captive in Gaza. From 120, Israel fears 43 are dead, killed by Hamas. According to Israel, they have recovered the bodies of at least 16 hostages from Gaza.
The second phase would include the release of all remaining hostages that are alive, including male soldiers. It involves the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The third phase involves the call for the reconstruction of Gaza, which may require decades of rebuilding from the destruction caused by the war started by Hamas.
UN Pressures Both Parties To Accept The Deal
Yesterday (Monday), US Secretary of State Antony Blinkin was in Israel to urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the plan. The Israeli PM pushed for more International pressure on Hamas to accept the proposal. The Israeli PM was doubtful about the ideal, as Israel aims to destroy Hamas. The UN is pressuring Israel more to accept the deal.
Whereas Hamas said that they welcomed the deal. They also said that they are ready to work with mediators in indirect negotiations with Israel to implement it. But they added that the group would continue their struggle against Israel and work on setting up a fully sovereign Palestinian state. Everyone was skeptical of Hamas when they said they welcomed the deal. Besides the UN and ICJ, there’s military pressure from Israel on Hamas.
It would work if the UN, International media, and countries around the world put enough pressure on Hamas to accept the deal, release the hostages, and work toward peace.
Peace: A Dream In The Middle East
It should be noted that many senior Hamas leaders have vowed to repeat October 7 many times. Even the charter of Hamas calls for the complete annihilation of Israel. The terrorist group is not shy about its intentions against Israel. The history involving Israel and Palestine has been bloody and filled with many wars. War is uneasy and never a solution, but peace is.
Many Arab and Muslim countries, including Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, have peace pacts with Israel. Since 1947, Israel has many times proposed peace and a Palestinian state, but it was Palestinian leaders who rejected them all. They want all the land of Israel. Unlike Hamas, Israel wants peace. Peace remains a dream in the Middle East.