New US ceasefire resolution conditioned with captive release: Blinken
3 Min Read
Washington's Secretary of State gives more details regarding the new draft resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, which calls "for an immediate ceasefire tied to the release of hostages."
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, steps out of a car as Blinken departs Jeddah for Cairo, Egypt, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Thursday, March 21, 2024. (AP)
The United States is currently circulating a new draft resolution to be presented at the United Nations Security Council, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza conditioned with the release of the Israeli captives, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State announced.
During a visit to Saudi Arabia, Blinken told local news outlet Al Hadath, "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," emphasizing that it would send a "strong message."
Blinken has set on his sixth tour to the Middle East, starting with a visit to Saudi Arabia, to hold talks with Prince Mohammed Bin Salman regarding the Israeli war on Gaza, then leading to Egypt on Thursday, and concluding it with a visit to the Israeli occupation.
"Of course, we stand with Israel and its right to defend itself... but at the same time, it's imperative that the civilians who are in harm's way and who are suffering so terribly -– that we focus on them, that we make them a priority, protecting the civilians, getting them humanitarian assistance," Blinken reiterated.
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Previous resolution pointed fingers at Hamas
The US, since the start of the genocide in Gaza, has consistently used its veto power against ceasefire resolutions, the latest being in February after an Algerian-sponsored resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire was raised. The US then began lobbying for a six-week truce, during which a ceasefire and captive-release deal would be effectuated, before settling on the current draft.
It is important to note that Hamas has recurrently said that any proposal that does not include its non-negotiables [the cessation of all aggression against Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the reconstruction of infrastructure and return of displaced people to their homes] would not be considered.
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The draft that the US has been circulating so far points fingers at Hamas, calling the Resistance movement a "terrorist organization" and claiming it did not represent the people of Palestine; it also failed to address the demands made by the group during ceasefire negotiations.
