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After a long period of tension, the UN Security Council finally passed an emergency ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip. The resolution passed also calls for a cease-fire in Gaza as well as the swift and unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas, the group that controls the Gaza Strip.
After the resolution was put to a vote at a meeting of the UN's highest-powered body on Monday, all members of the council voted in favor of the resolution, but the United States abstained from voting. However, the country did not present any arguments against the proposal or veto it.
Incidentally, Israel's oldest and most tried ally, the United States, has objected to or vetoed nearly every proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza. Those resolutions did not see the light of day mainly because of the US veto.
But the dissatisfaction between Israel and the United States is increasing day by day with the ongoing operations of the Israeli forces in Gaza. International political analysts say that the United States did not veto the proposal on Monday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a message on social media X shortly after the resolution was passed by the Security Council. He emphasized on the implementation of the proposal passed in that message.
The UN Secretary General said, 'After a long wait, the resolution of an emergency cease-fire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages has finally been passed. The proposal should be implemented as soon as possible. Any deviation in this regard will be unforgivable.'
On October 7, about 1,000 Hamas fighters entered Israel's territory through the northern border of Erez and launched an ambush. After the unprecedented attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began operations in Gaza from that day.
More than 32,000 people have been killed in Gaza in the last 6 months of the IDF operation, and the number of injured has exceeded 74,000. In addition, millions of Palestinians have lost their homes and been displaced, more than half of the buildings in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed by Israeli bombardment.
On the other hand, on October 7, 1,200 people were killed in an attack by Hamas fighters in Israel. During the attack, besides shooting and killing 240 people, Hamas fighters also took them as hostages in Gaza.
Nine days after the October 7 attacks, on October 16, the first Security Council resolution for a cease-fire in Gaza was tabled by Russia, but was vetoed by the United States and the United Kingdom. Later, at the initiative of China, the United Arab Emirates and other countries, several more ceasefire proposals were proposed at the council meeting, but each time the United States vetoed it.
At the end of last November, however, three mediating countries, the United States, Qatar and Egypt, agreed to a 7-day temporary truce between Hamas and Israel's wartime cabinet. A total of 108 hostages were released by Hamas during the break, while Israel released 150 of the Palestinians held in various prisons in the country.
132 people are still held hostage by Hamas. On the other hand, the death march has started in Gaza due to lack of relief and food. A few days ago, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a large-scale operation in the southern city of Rafah in the ongoing situation.
Within a few days of Netanyahu's announcement, the Security Council passed a ceasefire resolution in Gaza.
Sources – BBC, CNN
Bangladesh /TR
