The Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken to Twitter to criticise the resolution.
The United Nations Security Council has passed a new resolution which demands “an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza during Ramadan.
After several failed attempts, this is the first time that the council has called for a ceasefire since the Israel-Gaza war broke out in October 2023.
The council passed the resolution after a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with one abstention by the United States.
The resolution demands “an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and the urgent need to expand the flow of aid into Gaza”.
The US abstaining from the vote is noteworthy as the country had previously vetoed resolutions calling for a ceasefire.
It had argued that such action would be wrong amid continuing negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a truce and hostage releases.
In favour: 14
— United Nations (@UN) March 25, 2024
Against: 0
Abstention: 1
The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages.https://t.co/nOBuQOkxnj pic.twitter.com/QkZ7J7wHgi
However, it is now being said that the US’ decision to let the resolution pass suggests a growing split between the country and its ally Israel over the latter’s offensive in Gaza.
In a statement, Palestinian representative to the UN Riyad Mansour said it had “taken six months, with more than 100,000 Palestinians killed and maimed, to finally demand an immediate ceasefire”.
“The Palestinians in Gaza have shouted, cried, cursed and prayed, defying the odds time and time again. Now, they live with famine, with many buried under the rubble of their own houses,” he added.
“Their ordeal must come to an end, and it must come to an immediate end now.”
An image from a pro-Palestine march in Dublin this month
The Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken to Twitter to criticise the resolution, as well as the US for having “abandoned its policy”.
“Regrettably, the United States did not veto the new resolution, which calls for a ceasefire that is not contingent on the release of hostages,” it wrote.
“This constitutes a clear departure from the consistent US position in the Security Council since the beginning of the war.
“Today’s resolution gives Hamas hope that international pressure will force Israel to accept a ceasefire without the release of our hostages, thus harming both the war effort and the effort to release the hostages.”
Today’s resolution gives Hamas hope that international pressure will force Israel to accept a ceasefire without the release of our hostages, thus harming both the war effort and the effort to release the hostages.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) March 25, 2024
Meanwhile, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby disputed Israel’s claims about the United States, stating:
“Today, as you all know, we abstained on the U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza until the end of Ramadan and the release of all the hostages. Our vote does not — I repeat — does not represent a shift in our policy.
“We’ve been very clear, we’ve been very consistent in our support for a ceasefire as part of a hostage deal. That’s how the hostage deal was structured and the resolution acknowledges the ongoing talks.
“We wanted to get to a place where we could support this resolution. But because the final text does not have key language that we think is essential, such as condemning Hamas, we couldn’t support it. Though because it does fairly reflect our view that a ceasefire and the release of hostages come together, we abstained.”
Images via Leon Farell/RollingNews.ie
Read more:
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
