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.
