Can the Gaza ceasefire work?

June 13, 2024

ISLAMABAD – NINE months into Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, the UN Security Council has finally endorsed a ceasefire plan that promises to end hostilities in the occupied territory.

The US-sponsored three-phased plan, which was approved overwhelmingly through a resolution, with only one abstention by the 15-member UN Security Council (UNSC), has called for an immediate truce and for “fully implement[ing] its terms”. The resolution is binding on all sides.

Ever since the Israeli invasion of Gaza began last year, the UNSC has been in a deadlock over how to end the war. It is the first time that the UNSC has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Strip, which has been almost completely destroyed by Israel’s relentless air and ground strikes.

Earlier, it had adopted a resolution demanding a humanitarian ceasefire during Ramazan. But Israel refused to stop the war. Interestingly, the US has vetoed previous ceasefire proposals in the UNSC. The Biden administration has completely sided with Israel in its genocidal war.

Although it may have come too late — after the death of more than 38,000 people, most of them women and children, and the destruction of 80pc of Gaza’s buildings — the resolution offers a glimmer of hope for ending the ongoing genocide. Notwithstanding some ambiguity, the resolution is seen as a step forward towards a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

The resolution was finalised after almost a week of hard UNSC negotiations. Despite their strong reservations over the language of the text, which appeared heavily tilted towards Israel, all UNSC members, except Russia which abstained, voted in favour. Moscow suggested an amendment in the resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire.

China said it