U.N. Security Council approves ceasefire to end Israel-Hamas war in Gaza: NPR

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield (center) votes during a U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East at U.N. headquarters on Monday. The Security Council adopted a US-drafted resolution supporting a Gaza ceasefire plan.

Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

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Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

The United Nations Security Council has approved President Biden's step-by-step plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

After a 14-0 vote, with Russia abstaining, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the council sent a clear message to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“Israel has already accepted this agreement and the fighting could stop today, if Hamas did the same. I repeat: the fighting could stop today,” she said.

The plan calls for three phases beginning with a six-week ceasefire, during which Hamas releases some hostages and Israel releases Palestinian prisoners. Hamas and Israel would then negotiate phase two – a definitive end to the war and Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Hamas wants to obtain the guarantee of a permanent ceasefire immediately.

The third phase involves rebuilding Gaza after eight months of war that left much of the territory in ruins.