U.N. Security Council passes Gaza cease-fire proposal drafted by the U.S.

The United Nations Security Council passeda U.S.-drafted cease-fire deal aimed at halting eight months of bloody fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The draft of the resolution, which President Joe Biden approved, was finalized Sunday after almost a week of negotiations among members of the 15-member council.

For it to pass, the resolution needed at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the countries that have the power to send any cease-fire proposal back to the drawing board — the U.S., France, Britain, China or Russia.

China made no move to block it, and Russia abstained.

"Today, we voted for peace," said the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

In March, China and Russia vetoed a Gaza cease-fire resolution, saying it would give Israel a green light to attack the city of Rafah. Before, it was the U.S. that vetoed three draft resolutions, two of which would have demanded an immediate cease-fire.

Biden announced on May 31 that Israel had proposed a three-part plan that would ultimately lead to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, as well as the release of all hostages who have been held there since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a bloody surprise attack on Israel.

Israeli forces have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, including thousands of women and children, since then, according to Gaza health authorities.

Nate Evans, spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the U.N., said Sunday that it was important for the Security Council to put pressure on Hamas to agree to a proposal that Israel has accepted. 

"Israel has accepted this proposal and the Security Council has an opportunity to speak with one voice and call on Hamas to do the same," he said.

But there already are signs that Israel may not be on board with