UN passes ceasefire resolution in Gaza

The United Nations Security Council has made a significant move by passing a resolution urging for a ceasefire in Gaza for the remainder of Ramadan.

According to a report on Sky News, this resolution, passed with support from 14 council members including Russia, China, and the UK, calls for a two-week truce during the Muslim holy month, which began on March 10 and ends on April 9.

The resolution emphasizes the need for a permanent and sustainable ceasefire and also demands the immediate release of all hostages without linking it to a specific timeline. Furthermore, it stresses the urgent requirement to enhance humanitarian aid flow to the Gaza Strip.

However, the United States abstained from the vote, prompting reactions from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu canceled a planned delegation visit to Washington, citing a perceived shift in the US stance. His office expressed disappointment, stating that the US abstention from the vote undermines efforts to secure the release of hostages and gives Hamas hope for a ceasefire without meeting necessary conditions.

In response to the resolution, Hamas welcomed the call for a ceasefire and expressed willingness to engage in immediate prisoner swaps.

While some perceive the US abstention as a policy shift, the White House clarified that it does not represent a change in policy. The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, reiterated the country's support for the resolution's objectives despite the abstention.

The UK also backed the resolution, emphasizing the need to uphold international humanitarian law and scale up aid urgently to Gaza.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of implementing the resolution, stating that failure to do so would be unforgivable.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with thousands of Palestinians killed and many more facing starvation amid escalating conflict and humanitarian crises.

[With information sourced from Sky News]