UN Security Council passes resolution demanding ‘an immediate ceasefire’ during Ramadan
UN NEWS (TOI/DT) – The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on Monday demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, after the United States withheld its veto and abstained from the vote. It was the first time that the Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza since the start of the war in October.
Resolution 2728 is understood to be non-binding and is not expected to have an immediate impact on the ongoing fighting in Gaza, as has been the case with previous Security Council resolutions that have been adopted in other conflicts that were subsequently ignored.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said she had to suffice with abstaining on the resolution, rather than voting in favor, chiefly because it did not include a condemnation of Hamas.
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Israel is not expected to abide by the resolution’s call for an immediate ceasefire and Hamas is not expected to follow the demand for an immediate and unconditional release of the 134 hostages, though only the former is a party to the UN charter and failure to abide by its resolutions could lead to calls for sanctions. But with the US stressing that the resolution is not binding, it is highly unlikely that Washington would allow the council to sanction Israel for failing to abide by the measure.
Lack of Hamas condemnation is ‘a disgrace’: Israel
Gilad Erdan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Israel, questioned why the Security Council “discriminates” among victims, recalling that it condemned the deadly attack on a concert hall in Moscow on Friday, but failed to condemn the Nova music festival massacre of 7 October.
“Civilians, no matter where they live, deserve to enjoy music in safety and security, and the Security Council should have the moral clarity to condemn such acts of terror equally, without discrimination,” he said.
“Sadly, today as well, this Council refused to condemn the 7 October massacre; this is a disgrace,” he added.
Mr. Erdan further noted that for the past 18 years, Hamas initiated ceaseless attacks against Israelis, launching “thousands and thousands of indiscriminate rockets and missiles against civilians”.
He added that while the resolution failed to condemn Hamas, it did “state something that should have been the driving moral force”.
However, it does mark a symbolic blow to Israel’s international standing nearly six months since Hamas’s October 7 onslaught and appeared to highlight a new low in ties between the US and Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing afterward that he was canceling plans to send a delegation to Washington at the administration’s request to discuss a potential ground invasion in Rafah.
Yemen’s Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi Thanks 14 States for Supporting Ceasefire Resolution
The representative of Yemen Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, on behalf of the Arab Group, said they valued the votes of the 14 States supporting the resolution.
He said the resolution must be considered as a first step leading to a binding resolution on a permanent ceasefire.
The Arab Group also reaffirms that the efforts to reach an agreement on a ceasefire do not go against the call for freeing all hostages.
He said the group sought immediate compliance with the resolution and categorically rejects the double standard that is prolonging this conflict as Israeli occupation forces continue with their genocidal war, targeting women and children and even adopting a policy of starvation.
He called on the Council to impose strict sanctions on Israeli settlers who are inciting violence against Palestinians, including in Jerusalem.
The group will continue efforts towards an immediate ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid, an end to the forced displacement of Gazans and greater international protection for Palestinians.
Israel must be held accountable for its crimes, he said, and it is also time that the international community accept the State of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.
Gaza’s ordeal must end now: Palestine
Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer for the observer State of Palestine, said it had taken six months, with more than 100,000 Palestinians killed and maimed, to finally demand an immediate ceasefire.
The Palestinians in Gaza have shouted, cried, cursed and prayed, defying the odds time and time again. Now, they live with famine, with many buried under the rubble of their own houses.
“Their ordeal must come to an end, and it must come to an immediate end now,” he told ambassadors.
He said the rule of international law was being destroyed by Israel’s crimes. Instead of implementing a mandatory order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Israel has doubled down on its actions.
He said Palestinians had been killed if they stayed or left, and now, Israel threatens an invasion of Rafah.
