A vote took place last month in the Security Council on a draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza (European)

Diplomatic sources told Al Jazeera that the United States distributed an amended draft resolution for the third time to members of the UN Security Council that supports diplomatic efforts to conclude a quick and urgent agreement for an immediate ceasefire for a period of 6 weeks in the Gaza Strip, in addition to the release of all “hostages” once the parties agree.

The sources added that the amended US draft resolution confirms the Council's full support for using the window of opportunity provided by the ceasefire to intensify efforts to create conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities and to establish lasting peace in accordance with Resolution 2720.

Washington said that it plans to allow time for negotiations on the draft resolution and will not rush to vote on it.

The draft resolution requires the support of at least 9 countries for its adoption, in addition to the non-use of the veto power by any of the five permanent members of the Security Council (America, Britain, France, Russia, and China).

For its part, Reuters said that the version presented by Washington for the first time two weeks ago called for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, noting that the amended draft resolution currently presented to the Security Council reflects statements made by US Vice President Kamala Harris.

The agency added that the US administration wants to link the ceasefire to the release of the remaining Israeli prisoners in Gaza, whose number Israel estimates at about 130.

Biden: “The ceasefire in Gaza is in the hands of Hamas after Israel approved it.” #Gaza_War pic.twitter.com/CnzXY8SGon

- Al Jazeera Palestine (@AJA_Palestine) March 5, 2024

"In the hands of Hamas"

The United States presented the amended draft resolution in the Security Council, at a time when US President Joe Biden said that the ceasefire proposal was in the hands of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) now after the Israelis agreed to a proposal that he described as reasonable.

Biden expected that a ceasefire agreement would be reached by the month of Ramadan.

The US State Department also said yesterday that reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and overcoming obstacles is possible.

In the same context, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said that Israel negotiated “in good faith” in order to reach an agreement, calling on Hamas to accept it.

So far, Washington has rejected the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, saying that this serves the interest of Hamas.

In exchange for Washington's call for a temporary truce, Hamas still stresses that any agreement will lead to a final cessation of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

In a statement on Wednesday, the movement said that it will continue to negotiate to reach an agreement that fulfills the demands and interests of the Palestinian people, accusing Tel Aviv of evading its entitlements, especially what achieves a permanent ceasefire, the return of the displaced, and withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

It is noteworthy that Washington used its veto against 3 draft resolutions in the Security Council, the latest of which was an Algerian draft resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza for humanitarian reasons.

The United States justified its use of veto against draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire by saying that this might jeopardize mediation efforts aimed at concluding an agreement to end the war and exchange prisoners.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies