The UN Security Council demands an immediate ceasefire in Gaza – NRK Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country

The UN Security Council has on Monday adopted a proposal for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The council also demands that all hostages be released and that all barriers stopping emergency aid into Gaza must cease.

14 of the council’s members voted yes to the proposal. The United States abstained from voting.

Proposals for a cease-fire have been stopped several times in the Security Council, most recently by the veto powers China and Russia.

The pressure from the international community to bring about a ceasefire in the crisis-stricken Gaza has become stronger.

In the proposal that has now been adopted, the Council emphasizes the urgency of expanding access to humanitarian aid and protection in Gaza.

Pressured the US to stop the proposal

In advance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to pressure the United States to stop the ceasefire proposal.

Netanyahu said that if the US does not stop the ceasefire decision, Israel will suspend the entire Israeli delegation to the US.

The US is one of the veto powers in the council and has blocked resolutions on ceasefires several times in the past.

Israel cuts UNRWA

Israel also says on Monday that it is suspending cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

– UNRWA is part of the problem, and we are now stopping working with them. We are actively phasing out the use of UNRWA because they are furthering the conflict, rather than trying to delimit the conflict, says David Mencer, spokesperson for the Israeli government.

The proposal to be voted on on Monday has been put forward and supported by Mozambique, Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Korea and Switzerland.