The UN Security Council will vote today on the US plan for a resolution that supports the ceasefire proposal in Gaza and calls on Hamas to accept it, the South Korean presidency of the Council announced.
The latest version of that text, which AFP had access to, "welcomes" the truce proposal announced by US President Joseph Biden on May 31.
Unlike previous versions, it was reported that the plan had "already been accepted" by Israel. Hamas is called upon to "also accept it" and "both sides are called upon to fully implement the provisions that apply to them without delay and unconditionally."
The first phase of the plan calls for a six-week ceasefire followed by an Israeli withdrawal from densely populated areas of Gaza, the release of certain hostages kidnapped from Israel by Hamas during the attack, and the release of Palestinians from Israeli prisons.
But Hamas has not yet officially responded to the proposal.
Although Biden described the plan as coming from Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed.
The Americans clearly place the primary responsibility on Hamas to accept the plan, as outlined in the draft Security Council resolution. In Cairo today, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken pleaded with the countries of the region to "put pressure" on Hamas to do so.
According to diplomatic sources, several members of the Security Council had strong reservations about the two previous versions of the American proposal, especially Algeria, which represents the Arab group, and Russia, which has veto power.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told governments in the Middle East to put pressure on Hamas to accept a peace deal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
"My message to governments across the region, to the people of the region, is if you want a ceasefire, put pressure on Hamas to say yes," Blinken told reporters before leaving Egypt.
The US Secretary of State arrived today in the Middle East, as part of US efforts to accept the ceasefire plan proposed by President Joseph Biden and end the war in Gaza, the Voice of America reports.
Blinken, after meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, the first stop of the new Middle East tour, said that Hamas is the only one that has not yet accepted the proposal, which, according to Washington, Israel has already supported.
Al-Sisi stated that it is important to remove obstacles to humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
From Egypt, Blinken is going to Israel where he is meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant. He will continue his journey in Qatar and Jordan, where he will attend a conference on humanitarian aid for Gaza.
US officials said Israel would accept the ceasefire proposal, which includes an initial cessation of fighting, the release of some hostages from Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, an increase in humanitarian aid to Palestinians, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas of Gaza and the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and settlements.
Hamas has neither accepted nor rejected the plan, which the American president made public more than a week ago.
Meanwhile, the US has called for a vote on its draft UN Security Council resolution calling on Hamas to accept the proposed cease-fire agreement.
(Beta)
More than 37.124 Palestinians have been killed and 84.712 wounded in the Israeli military offensive on Gaza since October 7, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
About 40 Palestinians were killed and 218 wounded in the previous 24 hours, the ministry added, according to Reuters.
The United States of America (USA) has called on the members of the Security Council (SC) of the United Nations (UN) to vote on a draft resolution submitted by the SC, calling on Hamas to accept the proposed ceasefire agreement.
"Israel has accepted this proposal and the SC has an opportunity to speak with one voice and call on Hamas to do the same," the US Mission to the UN said in a statement late Sunday.
It added that this would help save the lives and end the suffering of civilians in Gaza, as well as hostages and their families.
"Council members should not let this opportunity pass and must speak with one voice in support of this agreement," the US Mission to the UN said.
The vote on the resolution could be held as early as today, Voice of America reports.
U.S. officials said Israel accepts a cease-fire proposal that includes an end to fighting, the release of some hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israel, the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the withdrawal of the Israeli military from populated areas in Gaza and the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes.
With the draft resolution, the US is trying to put additional pressure on Hamas, while at the same time calling on that group and Israel to fully implement the cease-fire agreement "unconditionally and without delay."
On May 31, US President Joe Biden presented a proposal for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, according to which the ceasefire would take place in three phases.
(MINE)
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has entered its 248th day.
Check out what happened yesterday:
Bonus video:
