The United Nations Security Council on Monday passed its first resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza after the U.S. abstained from the vote on Israel’s war against Hamas.
The final vote was 14 in favor, no votes against and one abstention. After the vote, the council broke into applause. The resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and for the immediate release of all hostages.
The vote comes just two days after Russia and China vetoed a resolution from the U.S. that tied a cease-fire to the release of hostages.
The latest resolution has the backing of officials from the United Nations, who have expressed growing concern about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said after the vote that “this resolution must be implemented.”
“Failure would be unforgivable,” he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. U.N. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, unlike those from the General Assembly. Still, they can technically be ignored. (The Hill) (Watch US Response)
