The United Nations Security Council is poised to vote on a new resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday (20/2/2024). According to AFP, the document prepared by Algeria "demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to be respected by all parties."
The draft resolution also opposes the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians and demands the release of all Hamas hostages.
The vote comes as Israel prepares to move into the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, where approximately 1.4 million people have been displaced, as part of its mission to dismantle Hamas.
The resolution will proceed despite the United States' third veto threat. Over the weekend, the US warned that Algeria's draft legislation was unacceptable and threatened to veto it.
"We do not believe that this Council product will help the situation on the ground," said US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood on Monday. "If this resolution were to be passed through a vote, then that resolution will not move forward."
According to Wood, the adoption of a ceasefire resolution could jeopardize ongoing diplomatic negotiations, which could lead to the release of hostages from Gaza.
Similar to previous drafts rejected by the United States and Israel, the new text does not condemn Hamas' attack on October 7.
On the other hand, the US has begun circulating an alternative draft. Washington proposes an alternative UN Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Washington also opposes Israel's large-scale ground assault on Rafah in southern Gaza.
"The US determines that under current conditions, a large-scale ground assault on Rafah would result in further civilian casualties and further displacement, including possible displacement to neighboring countries," reads the draft text seen by Reuters on Monday.
Although the draft includes the term "ceasefire," it does not call for an immediate end to hostilities. The US has previously avoided using the term ceasefire, vetoing two resolutions in October and December that used the term.
The United Nations Security Council faces a critical vote on a resolution urging a ceasefire in Gaza amidst ongoing tensions and US veto threats. The outcome of the vote will have significant implications for the conflict and diplomatic efforts to resolve it.