UN Security Council to Consider Voting on Cease-fire Plan Between Israel and Hamas

The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on a U.S.-backed resolution supporting President Joe Biden’s proposed cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The vote is scheduled for later today.

The text of the resolution was finalized by the U.S. after six days of negotiations among the 15 council members. It remains uncertain whether veto powers Russia and China will allow the draft to be adopted.

For the resolution to pass, it needs a minimum of nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the U.S., France, Britain, China, or Russia.

Biden presented a three-phase cease-fire plan on May 31, which he stated was initiated by Israel. Some Security Council members raised doubts about Israel’s acceptance of the plan to end the conflict in Gaza.

The draft resolution welcomes the new cease-fire proposal that Israel has accepted, calls on Hamas to also accept it, and urges both parties to fully implement its terms without delay or conditions.

The resolution also outlines that if negotiations for phase one take longer than six weeks, the cease-fire will remain in place as long as negotiations continue.

Riyad al-Maliki, an adviser to the Palestinian president, commented on the upcoming U.N. Security Council vote, expressing optimism and hoping for the proposal to be accepted.

In March, the council demanded an immediate cease-fire and the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas.

Efforts to negotiate a cease-fire have been ongoing for months, with involvement from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar. Hamas seeks a permanent end to the conflict in Gaza and Israeli withdrawal from the region with a population of 2.3 million.

Israel launched an offensive against Hamas following an attack on October 7, resulting in over 1,200 casualties and more than 250 hostages taken by Hamas, with over 100 hostages still believed to be held captive.

Israeli authorities report more than 36,000 Palestinians killed in the retaliation, according to Gaza health authorities.