The Security Council approves an immediate ceasefire resolution in Gaza, with America abstaining

After more than five months of war, the UN Security Council voted to approve its first resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while the United States abstained from voting after blocking previous attempts to issue a resolution by resorting to its veto power.

On Monday, the UN Security Council adopted its first resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, after more than five months of war.

The United States abstained from voting after obstructing previous attempts to issue a resolution by resorting to the veto.

The resolution, which was supported by 14 members and one abstention, “demands an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan,” which began two weeks ago, provided that it “leads to a permanent ceasefire.”

The resolution also demands "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages" held by Hamas since October 7.

Repeatedly, the United States has used its “veto” power to prevent the issuance of Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire, and it recently attempted to pass a resolution that did not include a direct call for a ceasefire, which Russia and China aborted with a “veto.”

A draft resolution submitted by Algeria, on February 20, calling for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza for humanitarian reasons, received the support of 13 out of 15 members, while the United States opposed it by using its “veto” and the United Kingdom abstained from voting, according to What the United Nations News website reported.

Since last October 7, the Israeli army has been waging a devastating war on Gaza that has left tens of thousands dead and wounded, most of them children and women, according to Palestinian sources, which necessitated Tel Aviv’s trial before the International Court of Justice on the grounds of “genocide.”

Israel restricts the access of humanitarian aid to Gaza, especially by land, which has led to a scarcity of food, medicine, and fuel supplies and has created an ongoing famine that has claimed the lives of children and the elderly, amid mounting Palestinian and international accusations against Tel Aviv of using “starvation” as a weapon, amounting to a “war crime.”

The Israeli war on Gaza left tens of thousands of civilian victims, most of them children and women, massive destruction and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, according to Palestinian and UN statements, which subjected Israel, for the first time, to trial before the International Court of Justice on charges of committing “genocide.” ".​​​​​