The United States (US) has submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). It calls for an immediate ceasefire regarding the release of Israeli hostages.
“In fact, we actually have a resolution that we submitted right now to the UNSC that calls for an immediate ceasefire regarding the release of the hostages, and we really hope that countries will support that,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Saudi media outlet Al Hadath on Wednesday evening while visiting Saudi Arabia, Thursday (21/3).
He said this US resolution could send a strong message, a strong signal. This step was taken by the US at the same time as Antony Blinken’s visit to Saudi to discuss the end of the war between Israel and Hamas.
The US, Israel’s main backer, previously used its veto power at the UN Security Council to block the world body from calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian territories. This time, said Blinken, the US wants the war to end quickly.
“Of course, we support Israel and its right to defend itself. But at the same time, it is very important for the civilians who are in danger and suffering greatly that we focus on them, we make them a priority, protect civilians, provide them with humanitarian assistance,” he said.
Blinken met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and then held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Wednesday (20/3). Blinken will make his next visit by meeting the governments of Qatar, Egypt and ending in Israel.
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This visit is the sixth to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7. Since blocking an Algerian draft resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza in late February, US officials have been negotiating an alternative text.
The US is focusing on supporting diplomatic efforts for a six-week ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages. According to diplomatic sources, this text has little chance of gaining approval from UNSC members.
The draft amendments, seen by AFP, emphasize the need for an immediate and durable ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides. This then enabled the delivery of important humanitarian aid, and reduced the suffering of Gazans, accompanied by the release of hostages still being held by Hamas.
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No vote has been scheduled on this text yet. Blinken’s tour ran parallel to negotiations in Qatar with mediators meeting for the third day on Wednesday (20/3).
A ceasefire proposal being discussed in Qatar would temporarily halt fighting. The conditions are that hostages are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners and aid deliveries are increased.
“I think the gap is narrowing, and I think a deal is very possible. We are working very hard with Qatar, Egypt and Israel to put forward a strong proposal. Hamas will not accept it,” he said.
The bloodiest Gaza war ever occurred after a Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Hamas also holds around 250 hostages, of which Israel believes 130 are still in Gaza, including 33 people who are thought to be dead. The Israeli military has launched a counteroffensive against Hamas that has killed nearly 32,000 people, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. (AFP/Cah/Z-7)
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