Many world leaders have welcomed a United Nations Safety Council (UNSC) decision that calls for an instantaneous ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.
Whereas the US abstained from the vote on Monday, the remaining 14 council members voted for the decision.
The decision, which the US mentioned it didn’t agree with in its entirety, requires an “instant ceasefire” at some point of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends in two weeks. It requires the ceasefire to result in a “lasting” truce, for the discharge of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and for respect for worldwide regulation from every celebration in the case of detainments.
Listed here are some reactions from key officers around the globe:
Palestinian Ministry of Overseas Affairs
The ministry mentioned that adopting the decision is a step in the best course to finish the five-month warfare, to permit the entry of support, and to start the return of these displaced.
The ministry additionally referred to as on UNSC member states to satisfy their authorized duties to implement the decision instantly. The ministry confused the significance of reaching a everlasting ceasefire that extends past Ramadan – together with securing the entry of support, working to launch prisoners, and stopping compelled displacement.
Fatah Central Committee member Sabri Saidam
Saidam mentioned the decision “is a step in the best course main in direction of the top of the continued bloodbath in Palestine”.
“The consensus we witnessed at present ought to pave the best way for the complete recognition of the much-delayed rights of the Palestinians and independence of the State of Palestine,” Saidam advised Al Jazeera.
Hamas official Basem Naim
The Palestinian group Hamas mentioned it was dedicated to the situations of the decision and mentioned Israel should be held accountable in adhering to it.
“It’s the position of the worldwide group to oblige Israel and to finish this double customary,” Basem Naim, a senior official in Hamas’s political bureau, advised Al Jazeera.
“The query is ‘How sturdy is the worldwide group to oblige Israel to implement this decision?’” he mentioned.
The group additionally confused the need of reaching a everlasting ceasefire that results in the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and affirmed its readiness to have interaction in an instantaneous trade course of that results in the discharge of prisoners on either side.
Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan
Erdan mentioned the decision didn’t demand a ceasefire with out “conditioning” it on the discharge of captives in Gaza, saying it “undermines the efforts to safe their launch”.
“It’s dangerous to those efforts as a result of it offers Hamas terrorists hope to get a ceasefire with out releasing the hostages. All members of the council … ought to have voted towards this shameless decision,” he mentioned.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Shortly after the decision handed, Netanyahu cancelled the go to of an Israeli delegation to Washington, DC, which the US had requested to debate issues over a proposed Israeli invasion of Rafah, a metropolis in crowded southern Gaza.
The US abstention was “a transparent retreat from the constant place of the US”, and would harm Israel’s warfare efforts and bid to launch the hostages nonetheless held by Hamas, the prime minister’s workplace mentioned.
US White Home
The White Home mentioned in an announcement that Washington’s abstention from the vote “doesn’t characterize a shift in our coverage … however as a result of the ultimate textual content doesn’t have the language that we expect is important, like a condemnation of Hamas, we couldn’t assist it”.
White Home spokesperson John Kirby mentioned that US officers have been “very disillusioned about Netanyahu’s choice to not ship his advisers for talks on the White Home in regards to the Rafah operation”.
UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres
The UN official mentioned the decision “should be applied”, including that failure to take action can be “unforgivable”.
The Safety Council simply authorized a long-awaited decision on Gaza, demanding an instantaneous ceasefire, and the instant and unconditional launch of all hostages.
This decision should be applied. Failure can be unforgivable.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 25, 2024
China’s ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun
“After repeated vetos of the council’s actions, the US lastly determined to cease obstructing the council’s calls for for an instantaneous ceasefire. Regardless of all this, the US nonetheless tried to seek out all types of excuses and made accusations towards China,” mentioned China’s ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun.
“For the lives which have already perished, the council decision at present comes too late, however for the hundreds of thousands of individuals in Gaza who stay mired in an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, this decision, if totally and successfully applied, may nonetheless deliver long-awaited hope,” he added.
Russia’s ambassador to the UN Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya
Nebenzya mentioned Moscow hopes the decision will likely be used within the “pursuits of peace” somewhat than advancing the “inhumane Israeli operation towards Palestinians”.
He mentioned Russia most well-liked a model of the textual content that demanded {that a} Ramadan ceasefire would result in “a everlasting sustainable ceasefire”.
“We’re disillusioned that it didn’t make it via. However, we imagine it’s essentially vital to vote in favour of peace. The council should proceed to work on reaching a everlasting ceasefire,” he mentioned.
French ambassador to the UN Nicolas de Riviere
De Riviere mentioned the adoption of the decision reveals that the UNSC can “nonetheless act when all of its members make the mandatory effort to discharge their mandate”.
“The Safety Council’s silence on Gaza was changing into deafening. It’s excessive time now for the council to lastly contribute to discovering an answer,” he advised the session.
He additionally mentioned that work must be executed to ascertain a everlasting ceasefire and to revive the political course of to deliver in regards to the two-state answer.
UK ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward
Woodward mentioned London “regrets” that the decision didn’t condemn the October 7 Hamas assault and confused that the UK “condemns” the assaults “unequivocally”.
Woodward additionally mentioned that the decision sends a “clear” message on the necessity for worldwide humanitarian regulation to be upheld.
“We name for this decision to be applied instantly. President, we have to give attention to how we chart the best way from an instantaneous humanitarian pause to an enduring, sustainable peace and not using a return to combating,” she mentioned.
“Which means the formation of a brand new Palestinian authorities for the West Financial institution and Gaza accompanied by a global assist bundle,” she mentioned.
Algeria consultant to the UN Amar Bendjama
Bendjama mentioned the Safety Council was “lastly shouldering its accountability as the first organ chargeable for sustaining worldwide peace and safety”.
“I wish to thank all of the council members for his or her flexibility and the constructive method that allowed us at present to undertake this long-awaited decision, [a] decision that requires an instantaneous ceasefire within the Gaza Strip as a way to put an finish to the massacres that sadly are nonetheless ongoing over the 5 months,” he mentioned.
“This massacre has continued for a lot too lengthy.”
Slovenia’s envoy to the UN Samuel Zbogar
“UNSC delivered the strongest sign to date: We demand an instantaneous ceasefire for the month of Ramadan resulting in an enduring ceasefire. It’s a name we now have all been determined to listen to from the council,” mentioned Samuel Zbogar, Slovenia’s envoy.
We welcome the adoption of UNSCR 2728 demanding an instantaneous ceasefire in #Gaza for the month of Ramadan resulting in an enduring sustainable ceasefire.
This decision reveals the E10 management for peace. pic.twitter.com/HH7Wpsrzv6
— Slovenia to the UN (@SLOtoUN) March 25, 2024
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen
The European Fee’s president welcomed the passing of the decision.
“Implementation of this decision is important for the safety of all civilians,” she mentioned on X.
I welcome the adoption by UN Safety Council of a decision demanding an instantaneous ceasefire in Gaza, and the instant & unconditional launch of all hostages.
Implementation of this decision is important for the safety of all civilians.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 25, 2024
Human Rights Watch UN director Louis Charbonneau
Charbonneau mentioned Israel “wants to instantly reply” to the decision “by facilitating the supply of humanitarian support, ending its hunger of Gaza’s inhabitants, and halting illegal assaults”.
“Palestinian armed teams ought to instantly launch all civilians held hostage. The US and different international locations ought to use their leverage to finish atrocities by suspending arms transfers to Israel,” he mentioned.