The new text does not condemn the unprecedented attacks by Hamas. (document)
United Nations:
The United Nations Security Council is likely to vote next week on a resolution seeking an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza at Algeria’s request, diplomatic sources told AFP on Saturday, although Washington again appeared to block the resolution.
Algeria launched discussions on the new draft after the International Court of Justice ruled in late January that Israel must do all it can to prevent genocide in the war in Gaza, which it said targeted Hamas operatives.
The latest text, seen by AFP on Saturday, “demands that all parties immediately comply with the humanitarian ceasefire agreement”.
It also “rejects the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians” and “demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”
The Gaza war began with a Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli data.
Israel has launched a relentless attack on Gaza that has killed at least 28,858 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-controlled region’s health ministry.
Algeria has asked the U.N. Security Council to hold a vote on Tuesday, but Washington has said it may veto the measure.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement that U.S. President Joe Biden is working with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to reach a hostage agreement that would result in a “long pause in fighting” for about six weeks. Statement on Algeria’s proposed draft.
“In contrast, the resolution proposed by the Security Council will not achieve these results and may even run counter to them,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
“The United States does not support action on this draft resolution,” she added. “If the bill were voted on as drafted, it would not be adopted.”
Like the previous text that Israel and the United States objected to, the new text did not condemn the unprecedented attacks by Hamas.
Earlier this month, Thomas-Greenfield said Algeria’s latest move could derail negotiations.
“We believe it is time for the Security Council to take a decision on a humanitarian ceasefire resolution,” Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN envoy, said recently, adding that the text’s content had “broad support” from Council members .
In October and December, Washington vetoed texts calling for a ceasefire despite international pressure over Gaza’s growing humanitarian crisis.
Since October 7, the Security Council has adopted only two resolutions on Gaza, one of which called for large-scale humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.
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