While the US abstained from voting, the 14 other members of the Security Council were for the resolution
The United Nations Security Council on Monday passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza to take place for the duration of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan; 14 members of the UNSC voted for the resolution, while the US abstained.
Ramadan began on March 10 and will conclude on April 9.
The resolution also demands the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and “the urgent need to expand the flow” of aid into Gaza.
Speaking after the vote, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield blamed Hamas for the delay in passing a ceasefire resolution.
“We did not agree with everything with the resolution,” she stated while clarifying the reasoning behind the US abstention.
“Certain key edits were ignored, including our request to add a condemnation of Hamas,” Thomas-Greenfield said. She stressed that the release of hostages will lead to an increase in humanitarian aid.
The US has previously vetoed three proposed UNSC resolutions on Gaza. It has also abstained from two such votes.
READ MORE: UN chief suggests ‘flooding’ Gaza with aid
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously threatened to cancel a planned visit to Washington if the US did not veto a proposal calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Reacting immediately after the vote, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the long-awaited resolution must be implemented and that a failure to do so “would be unforgivable.”
The Security Council just approved a long-awaited resolution on Gaza, demanding an immediate ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 25, 2024
Russia attempted to amend the text by restoring it to an earlier draft which called for a “permanent” ceasefire, but the bid failed.