The UN Security Council has for the first time demanded a ceasefire in Gaza in a resolution.
The United States abstained, and, with unusual applause for the Security Council, all 14 other members voted in favor of the resolution, which calls for a cease-fire to lead to a "durable and sustainable cease-fire" and demands that Hamas and other militants release the hostages taken on Oct. 7.
At the last minute, Russia objected to the removal of the word 'durable' ceasefire and called a vote, which was not adopted.
The successful resolution was drafted in part by Algeria, the current member of the Security Council of the Arab bloc, with the participation of various countries, including Slovenia and Switzerland.
The United States had vetoed previous ceasefire proposals, but showed growing frustration with Israel, including its stated plans to extend its military operation to the encircled southern city of Rafah.
There was also a change in tone towards Israel on 22 March when the US introduced a resolution recognising the "imperative" of an "immediate and sustained ceasefire".
But this text was blocked by Russia and China, which, along with Arab states, criticised it for not explicitly demanding that Israel halt its military operation in Gaza.
Unlike the previous text, the call for a ceasefire in the new resolution is not directly linked to the ongoing negotiations, led by Qatar with the support of the US and Egypt, for a cessation of hostilities in exchange for the release of hostages by Hamas.
Israel has sharply criticised the Security Council for previous resolutions that did not specifically condemn the terrorist group.
On 7 October, a Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of some 1 160 people, mostly civilians.
The militants also took 250 hostages, 130 of whom are still in captivity in Gaza. Of these, 33 are believed to have died.
According to the Ministry of Health in the Hamas-ruled territory, more than 32 000 people, mostly women and children, have died as a result of Israel's military campaign to eliminate the group.
The Security Council has been divided over the war between Israel and Hamas since the 7 October attacks, approving only two of the eight resolutions, both of which mainly concerned humanitarian aid. / BGNES, AFP
