Fourteen members of the United Nations Security Council voted on March 25 in favor of a Resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the month of Ramadan, which began on March 10 and ends on April 9. The United States abstained from the vote but did not veto it.
The United States fully supports the resolution’s critical objectives: that is, “to bring about an immediate and sustainable ceasefire; secure the immediate release of all hostages; and help alleviate the tremendous suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, who are in dire need of protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance,” said United States Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
“We are getting closer to a deal for an immediate ceasefire with the release of all hostages. But we are not there yet.”
“A ceasefire could have come about months ago if Hamas had been willing to release hostages. Months ago. Instead, Hamas continues to stand in the way of peace, to throw up roadblocks, cower in tunnels beneath Gaza’s cities, and under civilian infrastructure, and hide among the civilian population,” she said.
“We believe it was important for the Council to speak out and make clear that any ceasefire must come with the release of all hostages,” said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.
But “The only path to a durable end to this conflict is the release of all hostages.”
“Critically, a ceasefire and the release of hostages will allow much more humanitarian aid to get into Gaza, at a time when famine is looming large, and provide an opportunity to work toward a sustainable cessation of hostiles; toward a future where Hamas can no longer threaten Israel, and never repeat October 7, and no longer control Gaza and use civilians as shields; toward a future where Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in peace, in two democratic states of their own,” she said.
“We meet during the holy month of Ramadan. This should be a season of peace for Muslim communities around the world, just as October 7, Simchat Torah, should have been a day of peace for Jewish communities,” said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.
“This resolution rightly acknowledges that, during the month of Ramadan, we must recommit to peace. Hamas can do that by accepting the deal on the table. A ceasefire can begin immediately with the release of the first hostage.”
