UN Security Council Backs US-Proposed Israel-Gaza Ceasefire Plan, Hamas Welcomes Move

The adoption of the US-proposed draft by the UN Security Council was welcomed by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

Fourteen of the 15 members of the UN Security Council voted in favour of the Israel Gaza ceasefire plan while Russia abstained.

Source : X/@UN

The United Nations Security Council has backed a US-proposed Israel Gaza ceasefire plan which sets out conditions for a "full and complete ceasefire". The proposal also calls for the release of hostages held by Hamas and the return of dead hostages' remains and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners. 

The US-drafted resolution was backed by 14 of the 15 Security Council members with Russia abstaining, reported BBC. 

As per the resolution, Israel has accepted the ceasefire proposal and has urged Hamas to agree to it too. With voting in favour of the resolution, the Security Council has joined a number of governments, as well as the G7 group of the world's richest nations in backing the three-phase resoution which was unveiled by US President Joe Biden on May 31.

The vote came just hours after US State Secretary Antony Blinken's meeting with foreign leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a bid to build support for the peace deal. 

"If you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say, yes," Blinken said in his message to the leaders in the region ahead of the vote. 

Hamas welcomed the adoption of the draft resolution, reported Reuters. The Palestinian armed group said it was ready to cooperate with mediators on implementation of the principles of the plan "that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance."

In a statement, the militant group said: "Hamas welcomes what is included in the Security Council resolution that affirmed the permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the complete withdrawal, the prisoners' exchange, the reconstruction, the return of the displaced to their areas of residence, the rejection of any demographic change or reduction in the area of the Gaza Strip, and the delivery of needed aid to our people in the Strip."

The resolution was also welcomed by Palestinian Authority's Mahmoud Abbas, the Reuters report stated.