The United States has put forward a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, calling for a temporary cease-fire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The proposal specifically calls for halting a major Israeli ground offensive in the town of Rafah.
Details of the draft, labeled US Draft UN Resolution 2-20, reveal the U.S.’s conditions for a temporary cease-fire, which include the release of all hostages held by Hamas and ensuring easy access for humanitarian aid into Gaza.
This is the second time that Washington has proposed a Security Council resolution on Gaza.
“The simple fact that the U.S. is tabling this text at all is a warning shot for Netanyahu,” said Richard Gowan, the U.N. International Crisis Group Director. “It is the strongest signal the U.S. has sent at the U.N. so far that Israel cannot rely on American diplomatic protection indefinitely.”
This U.S. initiative emerges as the Security Council prepares to vote on a separate draft proposal by Algeria, which demands an immediate cease-fire. The U.S. has expressed intentions to veto the Algerian proposal, citing potential risks to ongoing negotiations aimed at achieving a pause in the warfare.
