The United States has introduced a new UN Security Council resolution urging an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, amidst increasing pressure on Israel to cease its military operations and facilitate the delivery of substantial humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory. Following the recent declaration of an impending famine in certain parts of Gaza by a UN panel of experts, the Biden administration has intensified its efforts to advocate for at least a temporary cessation of hostilities, while also cautioning Israel against initiating a ground offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza.
This marks a significant shift in the US approach to the conflict, as previous attempts to pass a ceasefire resolution were blocked by the US. The details of the resolution, which call for “an immediate ceasefire tied to the release of hostages” in Gaza, were revealed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his tour of the Middle East. Negotiations for an alternative text had been ongoing since the US blocked the Algerian draft resolution in late February, which sought an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza.
However, the alternative text, which focused on supporting a six-week truce in exchange for the release of hostages, was deemed unlikely to garner approval, according to diplomatic sources. While a vote on the new resolution has not yet been scheduled, it represents the clearest indication yet of the Biden administration’s growing frustration with Israel’s conduct of the conflict, especially in light of a warning from UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk, who suggested that Israel’s actions may constitute a war crime by using “starvation as a method of war.”
