US seeks temporary cease fire in Gaza, asks for hostage release

The U.S. has proposed a draft resolution at the U.N. for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the release of hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid.

Washington has previously faced opposition from Russia and China in similar attempts. The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which started with attacks by Hamas in October, has resulted in a significant number of casualties.

The U.N. General Assembly has shown support for a ceasefire through a non-binding resolution. Thirteen council members voted in favor of the Algerian-drafted text, while Britain abstained.

It was the third U.S. veto of a draft resolution since the start of the current fighting on Oct. 7.

Washington has also used its veto to block an amendment to draft resolution in December. “A vote in favor of this draft resolution is support to the Palestinians right to life.

Conversely, voting against it implies an endorsement of the brutal violence and collective punishment inflicted upon them,” Algeria’s U.N. Ambassador Amar Bendjama told the council before the vote. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield signaled on Saturday that the U.S.

would veto the draft resolution over concerns it could jeopardize talks between the U.S., Egypt, Israel and Qatar that seek to broker a pause in the war and the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“Demanding an immediate, unconditional ceasefire without an agreement requiring Hamas to release the hostages will not bring about a durable peace. Instead, it could extend the fighting between Hamas and Israel,” Thomas-Greenfield told the council ahead of the vote.

The Algerian-drafted resolution vetoed by the U.S. did not link a ceasefire to the release of hostages. It separately demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook