France proposes a draft resolution on the conflict in the Gaza Strip
France is preparing a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, the French Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday, indicating that the draft will be submitted in the coming days, Agerpres reports.
Paris is advancing the text despite US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's announcement late Wednesday that the United States is circulating its own draft resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire linked to the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The US decision to sponsor a draft could mark a shift in the Biden administration's position given that the United States has vetoed previous similar resolutions submitted by other countries that called for an "immediate cease-fire."
Blinken said in an interview with Saudi Arabia's Al Hadath on Wednesday, “Well, in fact, we actually have a resolution that we put forward right now that’s before the United Nations Security Council that does call for an immediate ceasefire tied to the release of hostages, and we hope very much that countries will support that.”
“The United States has been working in earnest with council members over the last several weeks on a resolution that will unequivocally support ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at securing an immediate cease-fire in Gaza as part of a hostage deal, which would get hostages released and help enable a surge in humanitarian aid," US UN spokesman Nathan Evans said in a statement to Al-Monitor, adding that the US delegation will bring the resolution for a vote on Friday morning in an effort to "pressure Hamas to accept the deal on the table.”
The UN Security Council is to vote on a resolution on Friday calling for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in the war in the Gaza Strip, according to diplomats. Consultation on the US draft resolution was scheduled for Friday at 9:00 a.m. (1:00 p.m. GMT).
