The United Nations Security Council on Monday passed a resolution demanding an “immediate ceasefire” for the remainder of the holy month of Ramadan, with only the U.S. abstaining from the vote — a move that has drawn criticism from all sides.
The resolution called for a temporary ceasefire during Ramadan, which began on March 11 and ends in about two weeks. Other conditions included the unconditional release of some of the 140 hostages held by Hamas and access to humanitarian aid in Gaza. An original draft called for a “permanent ceasefire.”
Fourteen out of 15 U.N. members voted to pass the resolution.
“This resolution is long overdue,” Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said in a statement. “The international community must now put political gameplay aside and prioritize saving lives by ensuring this resolution paves the way for a sustained ceasefire.”
Since Oct. 7, the war in Gaza has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians and displaced millions. World leaders have warned that famine is imminent.
Supporters of a ceasefire called on the U.S. — which has vetoed three previous resolutions in October, December and February — to stop arming Israel and use its influence as an ally to the country to help end the war.
“It’s long past time for the Biden administration to use all of its leverage to push for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, hostage exchange, and massive aid to Gaza,” the IfNotNow movement, a group of American Jews organizing against Israeli apartheid, said in a statement on social media.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Monday explained the abstention, saying that although the nation “fully supports these critical objectives,” certain key edits, like requests to condemn Hamas, were ignored. She accused Hamas of standing in the way of peace and said a ceasefire can begin as soon as the first hostage is released.
Riyad Mansour, observer for Palenstine at the U.N., said his nation is “being…
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