New York, United States – The UN Security Council has accepted a three-phase ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. This proposal, put forward by the United States, received favorable votes from 14 out of 15 council members, with Russia being the only country abstaining.
The ceasefire plan calls on both Israel and Hamas to promptly and unconditionally implement the terms outlined in the resolution. This agreement aims to bring a halt to the violence and pave the way for negotiations towards a lasting peace in the region.
US President Joe Biden detailed the three phases of the ceasefire proposal during a recent address at the White House. The first phase involves a complete ceasefire lasting six weeks, with Israeli forces withdrawing from densely populated areas in Gaza. Additionally, Hamas would release hostages, including vulnerable individuals, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian aid would be allowed to flow freely to Gaza, with hundreds of trucks supplying essential supplies daily as civilians return to their homes.
The second phase of the proposal, according to President Biden, includes a permanent cessation of hostilities, the release of all remaining Israeli hostages, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. While acknowledging that there are details to be negotiated between phases one and two, the president remains committed to seeing the plan through.
In the final phase of the ceasefire proposal, efforts will focus on the extensive reconstruction of Gaza, which has suffered significant devastation from the conflict. The return of remains of killed hostages to their families is also included in this phase, as part of the broader rebuilding process.
Israeli officials have underscored their commitment to ensuring peace and security in the region, emphasizing the need to neutralize Hamas as a threat to Israel’s well-being. They insist that the conflict will not conclude until all hostages are returned, and Hamas’s military capabilities are dismantled.
Hamas, on the other hand, has welcomed the adoption of the UN resolution and expressed readiness to engage in negotiations to finalize the details of the ceasefire plan. The militant group has agreed to the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian detainees, but emphasizes the importance of US intervention to ensure Israel’s compliance with the agreement.
As the region awaits further developments, the focus remains on implementing the ceasefire proposal effectively to bring an end to the violence and pave the way for lasting peace between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.