The United States has proposed a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, calling for a temporary ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The resolution also warns against an Israeli ground incursion into Rafah, a city where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge. This proposal comes after the US had previously vowed to veto an Algerian draft resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire. The Security Council is set to vote on the Algerian draft on Tuesday morning.
The US-proposed draft, which CNN has obtained, calls for a “temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practicable.” However, this falls short of the desires of most other Security Council members who are pushing for an immediate ceasefire. The United States, traditionally a staunch ally of Israel, has been resisting calls for a ceasefire, emphasizing Israel’s right to defend itself following a terror attack by Hamas on October 7. The US has also voted against at least two Security Council resolutions related to the conflict.
A senior US official stated that they do not plan to rush the vote on the draft resolution, believing that urgent action is not necessary at this time. Instead, the US will focus on redoubling efforts to negotiate on the ground. President Joe Biden has had extensive conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing his position that there needs to be a temporary ceasefire to ensure the safe release of hostages held by Hamas.
The US draft resolution also highlights the potential consequences of an Israeli ground offensive into Rafah. It warns that such an action would result in further harm to civilians and their displacement, potentially into neighboring countries. This could have serious implications for regional peace and security. Despite international pressure, Israel has announced its plans to expand its ground operations into Rafah as part of its objective to destroy Hamas following the October 7 attacks. There are concerns that military action in the refugee tent city could lead to an exodus and the loss of thousands of civilian lives.
The Biden administration has become increasingly vocal in expressing concerns over Israel’s conduct during the conflict. Last week, President Biden told Prime Minister Netanyahu that the military action “should not proceed.” The US draft resolution also calls for the release of Israeli hostages and will be privately discussed on Tuesday. It remains unclear when it will be put to a vote, which would require more than nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the permanent members to pass.
In conclusion, the United States has proposed a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, calling for a temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. This comes after the US had previously opposed an Algerian draft resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire. The US draft falls short of the desires of other Security Council members who want an immediate ceasefire. The resolution also warns against an Israeli ground incursion into Rafah, highlighting the potential harm to civilians and their displacement. The Biden administration has been expressing concerns over Israel’s conduct during the conflict and has emphasized the need for a temporary ceasefire to secure the release of hostages. The US draft resolution will be privately discussed and its voting timeline remains uncertain.
