US draft resolution would call for ‘immediate and lasting ceasefire’
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, touring the Middle East on Thursday, urged an end to fighting in the Gaza Strip as the United States prepared to submit a resolution to the United Nations on Friday calling for “an immediate and lasting ceasefire.” firework.”
The Security Council resolution, drafted by the United States, contained the strongest language Washington has supported to date, and was a marked change for Israel’s closest ally. In February, the United States vetoed a Council resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
The new resolution also condemns the October 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which sparked that day’s war and hostage crisis, and expresses support for negotiations to free those still held in Gaza.
When the United States vetoed the earlier resolution, American officials said they did so because they feared it could disrupt hostage negotiations. But Biden administration officials have become more outspoken in their push for a ceasefire in recent weeks, as experts have warned of a looming famine in Gaza and pressure grows for stronger international action.
The resolution circulated by US diplomats and obtained by The New York Times on Thursday said the Council “Determines the need for an immediate and lasting ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides, enable the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance and alleviate humanitarian suffering, and to this end unequivocally supports continued international diplomatic efforts to “to secure such a ceasefire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”
The resolution also notes “deep concern over the threat of conflict-induced famine and epidemics.”
The call for an “immediate and lasting” ceasefire was clearly stronger language than a draft Security Council resolution circulated by the United States in February, which called for a temporary ceasefire “as soon as practicable” .
The Biden administration also used the resolution to reiterate its opposition to Israel’s planned invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is packed with war refugees. It expresses “concerns that a ground offensive against Rafah would result in further damage to civilians and their further displacement, possibly also to neighboring countries.”
On Thursday, Mr Blinken met in Egypt with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and several Arab foreign ministers – including those of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority – to discuss how post-war Gaza could be governed and kept safe.
The group also planned to discuss providing more aid to Gazans trapped in a humanitarian crisis.
Mr Blinken had arrived from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where in an interview with the Saudi-run news channel Al HadathHe said he hoped other countries would support the US-proposed Security Council resolution. “I think that would be a powerful message, a powerful signal,” he said.
He also said that ceasefire negotiations, brokered by Egypt and Qatar, between Hamas and Israel were moving “closer” to reaching an agreement. Negotiators have been in Qatar since Monday for the latest round of talks, after several previous attempts ended without results.
On Thursday, Mr. Blinken said obstacles to a deal remained.
“There are still real challenges,” he said alongside his Egyptian counterpart at a news conference in Cairo. “We have closed the gaps, but there are still gaps.”
Last week, Hamas presented a new proposal that excluded an earlier demand that Israel immediately agree to a permanent ceasefire in exchange for starting a hostage exchange for Palestinians in Israeli prisons, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Israeli officials said ahead of this week’s talks that the broad proposal under discussion included a 42-day pause in fighting in exchange for the release of 40 of more than 100 hostages believed to be in Gaza.
Mr Blinken also held a late-night meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during which he emphasized the Biden administration’s ultimate goal: “the establishment of a future Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel,” the spokesman said Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Matthew Miller, said in a statement Thursday.
He said Mr. Blinken and the Crown Prince had “had ongoing discussions on achieving lasting regional peace and security, including through greater integration among countries in the region and enhanced bilateral cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia.”
The reference was to discussions between the Biden administration and Saudi Arabia over a possible deal that would see the kingdom establish normal diplomatic relations with Israel for the first time. In return, the Saudis have asked the United States for security guarantees, arms sales and support for a civilian nuclear program.
Such an agreement would most likely require Israeli support for a path to a Palestinian state.
Mr Blinken plans to travel to Israel, where he will discuss the possible Saudi normalization deal, as well as ways to protect and provide more aid to citizens there.
Thursday’s diplomatic efforts came as the Israeli army’s attack on Gaza’s largest medical center continued into a fourth day. The army said Thursday that it had killed dozens of people it described as terrorists in and around Al-Shifa hospital in central Gaza in the past 24 hours.
Israel has carried out a series of raids on the hospital. Since the latest attack began on Monday, the Israeli military has reported killing more than 140 people it said were terrorists, far more than in previous raids. On Thursday, the military said it had also detained 600 people in hospital.
Israel has said Hamas used the hospital as a command center and hid weapons and fighters in underground tunnels there.
Reporting was contributed by Victoria Kim, Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Hiba Yazbek And Lauren Leatherby.