The UN Security Council will hold a vote on a proposal to halt the ongoing conflict in Gaza on Monday.
The United States has proposed a resolution to the United Nations that would express support for a plan aimed at resolving the conflict in the Gaza Strip. This plan has already received agreement from Israel, but Hamas is also being urged to sign on. According to the plan proposed by US President Joe Biden in May, both parties must implement the measures "unconditionally and immediately."
Biden's three-step plan involves an "immediate and complete" ceasefire, the Israeli army's withdrawal from populated areas of the Gaza Strip, and the release of captured Palestinian hostages in exchange for imprisoned Israeli citizens. The two sides are expected to negotiate a "permanent end to hostilities" as well.
Despite his statement, Biden's plan was later described as incomplete by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the beginning of June, who has made it clear that his goal is to destroy Hamas. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently on a Middle East tour in an effort to promote these negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Blinken began his trip in Cairo, appealing to the Arab states there to use their influence to encourage Hamas to sign onto the ceasefire plan. He then traveled to Israel, where he met with Netanyahu and Opposition Leader Benny Gantz. Gantz had previously resigned from the war cabinet due to a disagreement over strategies for dealing with the Gaza Strip.
This conflict began on October 7 when Hamas conducted a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1194 people and the abduction of 251 individuals to the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli reports. Currently, 116 hostages remain captive in the Gaza Strip, with 41 of them reportedly killed by their captors, according to the Israeli army.
Since then, Israel has been taking aggressive military action in the Gaza Strip. However, the health ministry controlled by Hamas, without independent confirmation, reports that over 37,000 people have been killed as a result of the on-going conflict.
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The UN Security Council is set to vote on a proposal to halt the ongoing Gaza conflict on Monday, initiated by the USA. The proposal supports a plan aimed at resolving the Gaza Strip's conflict, which already has Israel's backing, but Hamas is urged to participate as well. According to Biden's May plan, both parties must comply unconditionally and immediately with measures for an immediate and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated Gaza areas, and hostage release in exchange for imprisoned Israelis.
Tony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, is currently in the Middle East on a tour to promote these negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release. He appealed to Arab states for influence in persuading Hamas to sign onto the ceasefire plan in Cairo before meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Opposition Leader Benny Gantz. This conflict began in October when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, leading to 1194 deaths and 251 abductions, per Israeli reports.
Despite this, 116 hostages remain captive in the Gaza Strip, with 41 reportedly killed by their captors according to the Israeli army. Hamas' health ministry claims over 37,000 people have died in the course of the conflict, without independent confirmation. While Israel has been acting aggressively militarily, Palestinian civilians have suffered heavily in the Gaza Strip.
The USA, as well as the UN, are working towards enforcing a ceasefire and bringing an end to the hostilities in the Gaza Strip. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with tensions high in South Korea, as they too have participated in UN peacekeeping missions. These efforts continue as the international community hopes for a lasting resolution to the conflict.
