WASHINGTON — The United Nations Security Council on Monday adopted a US-drafted resolution urging Israel and Hamas to fully implement the cease-fire proposal that President Joe Biden announced more than a week ago.
The resolution, which passed the UN’s top decision-making body with 14 votes in favor and one abstention from Russia, “calls upon” Hamas to accept the latest proposal to end the eight-month war. The resolution also “urges both parties to fully implement” the cease-fire “without delay and without condition.”
The Palestinian militant group hasn’t formally responded to the proposal since it was made public on May 31. But shortly after the vote, Hamas said in a statement that it welcomed the resolution’s passage and was ready to cooperate on indirect negotiations over a permanent cease-fire. US officials have described the latest offer as nearly identical to Hamas’ own proposals.
“We need Hamas to agree to the cease-fire deal. And then we need Israel and Hamas to implement the deal without delays or conditions,” US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said before the vote.
