The UN Security Council adopted a draft resolution calling for support for the 3-stage proposal announced by US President Joe Biden, the first phase of which envisages an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a draft resolution requesting support for the 3-stage proposal announced by US President Joe Biden, the first phase of which envisages an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In the 15-member UNSC, the US draft resolution received 14 “yes” votes, while Russia abstained.
In the adopted resolution, while pointing to the diplomatic efforts carried out by Egypt, the US and Qatar, the 3-stage proposal presented by Biden on May 31 was welcomed.
The resolution stated that Israel accepted Biden’s proposal and called on Hamas to accept and implement it.
The resolution noted that the 3-stage proposal would include an immediate ceasefire, the release of women, elderly and wounded prisoners, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza, an increase in humanitarian aid, the reconstruction of basic services, the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes throughout the strip, including the north of Gaza, and the necessary housing contributions from the international community.
In the second phase following the parties’ agreement, the resolution demanded the release of all remaining prisoners of war to bring the crisis to a final end, and called for Israel’s withdrawal from all of Gaza.
In the third phase, the resolution stated that a reconstruction plan for Gaza would be launched over several years, and the bodies of the dead prisoners would be returned.
The resolution noted that if the negotiations for the first phase lasted more than 6 weeks, the ceasefire would continue until the end of the negotiations, emphasizing the importance of the parties’ compliance with the provisions of the agreement and asking for support from the UNSC and UN members.
The resolution supported the two-state solution and emphasized the importance of the unification of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.
The statement opposing the “buffer zone” was removed
In the first draft resolution opened for negotiations by the US, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza was supported, while the creation of a “buffer zone” in Gaza was opposed.
It was noteworthy that the statement opposing the “buffer zone” was deleted in the final text submitted for voting.
On the other hand, the fact that Biden’s proposal was not included in writing in the resolution text was among the issues that drew reaction.
After October 7, the US had vetoed many draft resolutions demanding a ceasefire in Gaza submitted by different UNSC members.
Biden’s ceasefire proposal
At a press conference held at the White House on May 31, US President Biden announced that Israel had made a new proposal regarding the ceasefire and prisoners in Gaza.
Biden reported that Israel presented a new ceasefire proposal consisting of 3 phases, and that in the first phase, Israel envisaged withdrawing from settlements in Gaza and releasing some of the prisoners held by the parties during the 6-week ceasefire period.
Explaining that in the first phase, “Israeli forces will fully withdraw from the settlements in Gaza”, Biden stated that in the same process, it is envisaged to release prisoners, primarily the elderly and women, and to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.
He said that Israel would withdraw from Gaza (in the first phase), the temporary ceasefire would turn into a permanent cessation of hostilities, and in the second phase, if the parties reached an agreement on all issues and the ceasefire became permanent, the third phase would begin.
In this phase, the reconstruction of Gaza would be on the agenda.
Hamas: We are ready to cooperate
The Hamas movement announced its readiness to negotiate with intermediaries to implement the principles of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, complete withdrawal, prisoner exchange, reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the return of the displaced to their homes.
Hamas said in a statement that it “welcomes the principles of the UNSC resolution, including a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from Gaza, prisoner swaps, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the return of the displaced.”
The statement added that Hamas is ready to cooperate with intermediaries to enter into indirect negotiations on the implementation of these principles in line with the demands of the Palestinian people and resistance.
The statement also emphasized that Hamas will continue its struggle with the entire people to achieve their national rights, including the defeat of Israel, the return of Palestinians to their homes and the establishment of a fully independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty and self-determination with Jerusalem as its capital.
The UNSC adopted a draft resolution calling for support for the 3-stage proposal announced by US President Joe Biden, the first of which calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In the 15-member UNSC, the US draft resolution received 14 yes votes, with Russia abstaining from the vote.
The resolution stated that Israel accepted Biden’s proposal and called on Hamas to accept and implement the proposal.
In the resolution, it was noted that under the 3-stage proposal; in the first stage, an immediate ceasefire, the release of women, elderly and wounded prisoners, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza, the increase of humanitarian aid, the reconstruction of basic services, the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes throughout the strip, including the north of Gaza, and the necessary housing contribution of the international community.
