USA, draft resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

2024-03-21 08:24:32, Kosova & Bota CNA

The United States has circulated a draft United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an "immediate ceasefire related to the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

The American diplomat made this announcement during the Middle East tour, which will also include a visit to Israel.

The US, Israel's key ally, had earlier vetoed Security Council resolutions on Gaza. The last case was in February, when Washington objected to the use of the word "immediately" in the draft submitted by Algeria.

In recent weeks, however, Washington has increased pressure on Israel, as it insists that Hamas - the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the US and the European Union - must immediately release the hostages taken during the October 7 attack in southern Israel.

"In fact, we have a resolution that we have sent to the UN Security Council that calls for an immediate ceasefire related to the release of the hostages, and we hope that every country will support it," Blinken said during a visit to Saudi Arabia. .

"I think it would send a strong message, a strong signal," he told Saudi media outlet Al Hadath.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the October 7 attack.

"Of course, we stand with Israel in its right to defend itself... but, at the same time, it is imperative that the civilians who are in the war zones and who are suffering horribly - that we focus on them , let's make them a priority, i.e. protecting civilians and sending humanitarian aid," said Blinken.

US officials have been negotiating an alternative resolution text since they blocked an Algerian draft resolution calling for an "immediate ceasefire in Gaza".

That alternative, which centered on supporting a six-week ceasefire in exchange for the release of the hostages, had little chance of passing, diplomatic sources said, according to AFP. This news agency has seen a new version of the text which emphasizes "the need for an immediate and lasting cease-fire to protect civilians, allowing essential aid to alleviate suffering... in connection with the release of hostages being held." .

No session has yet been scheduled where this text could be voted on.

A day earlier, Blinken met with the heads of state in Saudi Arabia, while on Thursday he will stay in Egypt and on Friday in Israel.

Blinken's tour, his sixth in the region since the war began, runs parallel to talks being held in Qatar, where mediators met for the third day in a row on Wednesday to try to broker a ceasefire. However, there is little indication that they can quickly reach an agreement.

The plan being discussed in Qatar would allow for a temporary cessation of hostilities in exchange for the release of Palestinian hostages and prisoners. During this period, deliveries of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip would also increase./ REL