UN Security Council Backs Gaza Ceasefire, US Abstains

The Guardian reports:

For the first time the UN security council has voted for a call for a ceasefire in Gaza, after the US abstained, rather than using its veto as it has done on previous occasions. Russia and China have also previously vetoed texts.

The resolution that passed was written by the 10 elected members to the council, and proposed in the chamber by Mozambique’s representative. Russia attempted to amend the text by restoring it to an earlier draft which included the word “permanent”, but the bid failed.

14 members of the UN security council voted for the resolution, while the US abstained. Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier threatened to cancel a planned delegation to Washington if the US did not exercise its veto.

Read the full article.

Breaking: To rare cheers from the chamber, the UN Security Council has approved a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Gaza and Israel. The vote was 14 in favor. The US abstained.

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) March 25, 2024

The text demands an immediate ceasefire leading to a permanent, sustainable one. It also demands “the immediate release of all hostages” and the lifting of all barriers to humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) March 25, 2024