The US presents a proposal to the UN for a ceasefire in Gaza

USA presented a resolution to the United Nations Security Council that would support a temporary ceasefire in Loopafter rejecting a proposal backed by Arab nations, which demands an immediate end to hostilities on humanitarian grounds in the devastated territory.

The proposed resolution, which was obtained by The Associated Press on Monday, would highlight that a temporary ceasefire “as soon as practical” requires the release of all hostages taken from Israel following the attack. Hamas on October 7, and calls for all restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian assistance to be lifted.

The US initiative states that these two actions would “help create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities,” as set out in the resolution the council adopted on December 22.

The proposed resolution notes that the planned large-scale ground offensive Israel in the city of Rafah, in the south of the territory and where more than 1.5 million Palestinians have fled in search of safety, “should not proceed under the current circumstances.”

It warns that additional displacement of civilians, “including the possibility to neighboring countries” — referring to Egypt — would have serious implications for peace and security in the region.

The Security Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday morning on the resolution presented by Arab nations that was circulated by Algeria, which represents 22 Arab countries in the most influential body in the UN.

In addition to the ceasefire, the final draft of the Algerian initiative to which the PA had access also calls for the immediate release of all hostages and reiterates the council’s demands that Israel and Hamas “scrupulously comply” with international laws, in particular those relating to the protection of civilians, and condemns the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians.