MANHATTAN: While US abstained, all remaining fourteen members of UNSC voted on Monday (25th March, 2024) for the first time in favor of the resolution demanding immediate ceasefire during the holy (fasting) month of Ramazan (ending in two weeks) between Hamas and Israel in Gaza and unconditional release of all hostages.
The resolution, proposed by ten elected members of UNSC, stresses on the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to and reinforce the protection of civilians in Gaza. It reiterates demand for the lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance after the massacre of 32,000 Palestinians (mostly men and women).

MANHATTAN: US, that has used its veto 3 times in the last 6 months, abstained Monday (25th March, 2024) although Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had warned that he would cancel a planned delegation to DC if the US did not veto the resolution.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield stated: “The United States support for these objectives is not simply rhetorical. We’re working around the clock to make them real on the ground through diplomacy, because we know that it is only through diplomacy that we can push this agenda forward…A ceasefire can begin immediately with the release of the first hostage and so we must put pressure on Hamas to do just that.”
Deciphering Monday’s stand Ambassador Greenfield said that the US abstained from the vote because it did not agree with everything in the resolution. Moreover, the text did not include a condemnation of Hamas.

MANHATTAN: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres took to the X (Twitter) to maintain: “The Security Council just approved a long-awaited resolution on Gaza, demanding an immediate ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable”. After voting for the resolution French Rep. Nicolas de Rivière (L) stated: “This crisis is not over. Our council will have to remain mobilized and immediately get back to work. After Ramazan, which ends in two weeks, it will have to establish a permanent ceasefire.”
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APP Adds: Pakistan Monday welcomed the adoption of the United Nations Security Council resolution 2728, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the holy month of Ramadan.
In a statement, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said: “We also welcome the Security Council’s call for allowing free flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance, and ensuring protection of civilians in the entire Gaza Strip.”

“Over the course of past six months, Pakistan has repeatedly expressed its strong and unequivocal condemnation of the indiscriminate use of force by Israel, calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian assistance to the besieged people of Gaza, return of the displaced Palestinians, and ensuring accountability for the crimes being committed by Israel with impunity.”
“We call for expeditious implementation of the Security Council resolution adopted today, hoping that it will serve as a first step towards ending Israel’s brutal onslaught, ensuring a permanent ceasefire, and helping address the prevailing grave humanitarian situation in Gaza.”
“Pakistan will continue to voice its support for a just, comprehensive and durable solution through the establishment of a secure, viable, contiguous and sovereign State of Palestine on the basis of the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” the Spokesperson added.
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