- By Mayukh Debnath
- Mon, 25 Mar 2024 08:39 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Israel-Hamas War: The United Nations Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces and Palestinian militant outfit Hamas are engaged in a months-long armed conflict that was triggered by the latter's October 7 rampage across southern Israel, news agency Reuters reported.
The resolution also called for the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas militants. The United States abstained from voting on the resolution. The remaining 14 council members voted for the resolution, which was proposed by the 10 elected members of the body.
The resolution is the first one that managed to make through the Security Council after several others demanding a truce fell through over the months following the outbreak of the ongoing armed conflict.
Washington had been averse to the word ceasefire earlier in the nearly six-month-old war in the Gaza Strip and had used its veto power to shield US ally Israel as it retaliated against Hamas for the October 7 attack, which Israel claimed 1,200 lives.
But amid growing global pressure for a truce in the war that has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, the US abstained from the vote on Monday to allow the Security Council to demand an immediate ceasefire for the month of Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends in two weeks.
(With inputs from Reuters)
