International
-Sathish Raman
In
a
significant
move
aimed
at
quelling
the
ongoing
conflict
in
Gaza,
the
UN
Security
Council
on
Monday
endorsed
a
resolution
for
a
cease-fire
plan,
marking
a
pivotal
moment
in
the
eight-month-long
war
between
Israel
and
Hamas.
The
resolution,
which
was
sponsored
by
the
United
States,
received
overwhelming
support,
with
14
of
the
15
Security
Council
members
voting
in
favor,
while
Russia
chose
to
abstain.The
cease-fire
proposal,
initially
announced
by
President
Joe
Biden,
has
been
accepted
by
Israel,
according
to
the
United
States.
It
outlines
a
three-phase
plan
designed
to
halt
the
hostilities
and
pave
the
way
for
peace
in
the
region.
The
militant
Palestinian
group
Hamas,
which
had
initially
viewed
the
proposal
“positively,”
has
now
expressed
its
readiness
to
engage
in
indirect
negotiations
with
Israel
to
implement
the
cease-fire
plan.
Despite
welcoming
the
resolution,
Hamas
emphasized
its
continued
commitment
to
ending
the
Israeli
occupation
and
establishing
a
“fully
sovereign”
Palestinian
state.US
Ambassador
Linda
Thomas-Greenfield,
speaking
after
the
vote,
highlighted
the
resolution’s
clear
message
to
Hamas
to
accept
the
cease-fire
deal
on
the
table.
She
reiterated
Israel’s
acceptance
of
the
deal,
which
enjoys
global
support.
“The
fighting
could
stop
today
if
Hamas
would
do
the
same,”
Thomas-Greenfield
stated,
emphasizing
the
immediate
potential
for
halting
the
conflict.The
resolution’s
strong
backing
by
the
UN’s
most
influential
body
adds
pressure
on
both
parties
to
agree
to
the
proposed
three-phase
cease-fire
plan.
However,
Israeli
Prime
Minister
Benjamin
Netanyahu
has
raised
concerns,
stating
that
any
discussion
of
a
permanent
cease-fire
must
first
address
the
dismantling
of
Hamas’s
military
and
governing
capabilities.The
proposed
cease-fire
deal
was
discussed
in
Qatar
by
leaders
of
Hamas
and
Palestinian
Islamic
Jihad.
They
later
stated
that
any
agreement
must
lead
to
a
permanent
cease-fire,
a
full
Israeli
withdrawal
from
Gaza,
an
end
to
the
Israeli
siege
of
Gaza,
reconstruction
efforts,
and
a
significant
exchange
deal
involving
hostages
in
Gaza
and
Palestinians
detained
in
Israeli
jails.Algeria’s
UN
Ambassador
Amar
Bendjama,
representing
Arab
interests
on
the
council,
acknowledged
that
while
the
resolution
is
not
perfect,
it
offers
hope
for
an
end
to
Palestinian
suffering.
The
war
began
with
a
surprise
attack
by
Hamas
on
October
7
in
southern
Israel,
resulting
in
significant
casualties
and
hostages
taken.
According
to
Gaza’s
Health
Ministry,
Israel’s
military
offensive
has
led
to
over
36,700
Palestinian
deaths
and
more
than
83,000
injuries.The
resolution
underscores
ongoing
diplomatic
efforts
by
Egypt,
Qatar,
and
the
United
States
aimed
at
achieving
a
comprehensive
cease-fire
deal.
It
outlines
a
phased
approach
beginning
with
an
initial
six-month
cease-fire
period
involving
hostage
releases
and
withdrawals
of
Israeli
forces
from
populated
areas
in
Gaza.
The
subsequent
phases
focus
on
achieving
a
permanent
end
to
hostilities
and
launching
a
multi-year
reconstruction
plan
for
Gaza.This
development
comes
as
US
Secretary
of
State
Antony
Blinken
continues
his
diplomatic
mission
in
the
Middle
East,
marking
his
eighth
visit
since
October
7.
The
resolution
reiterates
the
Security
Council’s
commitment
to
a
two-state
solution
where
Israel
and
Palestine
coexist
peacefully
within
secure
borders.
It
also
emphasizes
unifying
Gaza
with
the
West
Bank
under
Palestinian
Authority
control—a
stance
not
yet
agreed
upon
by
Netanyahu’s
government.
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