With its record of vetoing the truce in Gaza, the United States unveils a mysterious new UN resolution News of the Israeli war on Gaza

Given a possible truce agreement between Israel and Hamas in Qatar, the US draft resolution does not explicitly call for a ceasefire now.

The United States has circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire linked to the release of hostages” in Gaza, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is touring the Middle East.

Israel's main political and military backer has repeatedly vetoed previous UN Security Council votes on ending the nearly six-month-old war, and as recently as February objected to the use of the term “immediate” in a draft submitted by Algeria.

But in recent weeks, pressure has increased on Israel while insisting that Hamas fighters must immediately release prisoners taken during the October 7 attacks on Israel.

“Well, in fact, we already have a resolution that we have now put before the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire linked to the release of the hostages, and we very much hope that countries will support that.” Blinken said in Saudi Arabia.

“I think that will send a strong message, a strong signal,” he told Saudi media channel Al Hadath on Wednesday.

“Of course, we stand with Israel and its right to defend itself… But at the same time, it is essential that we focus on the civilians who are being harmed and who are suffering greatly — and that we focus on them, and that we make them a priority, protecting civilians and providing them with humanitarian assistance,” Blinken said. “.

A copy of the new draft resolution, obtained by Al Jazeera, said: “The Security Council decides that an immediate and sustained ceasefire is necessary to protect civilians on all sides, allow the delivery of essential humanitarian aid, and alleviate human suffering, and to this end unequivocally supports international diplomatic efforts.” underway to secure a ceasefire with regard to the release of all remaining hostages.

James Baez, Al Jazeera's diplomatic editor, said that while this development seemed “very significant”, the “precise language” of the resolution was crucial, adding that what the US was actually demanding was vague.

“It's certainly the strongest language yet, but is this what the rest of the Security Council wants in terms of demanding an immediate ceasefire? Or is it just a resolution where the Security Council says an immediate ceasefire is very important?” he said.

No date has yet been set for voting on this text.

In February, the United States was the only country to vote against the draft resolution – the third veto of its kind – while the United Kingdom abstained.

For a resolution to be adopted in the UN Security Council, it requires at least nine favorable votes and no veto by any of the five permanent members: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, or China.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said that her country vetoed the resolution due to fears that it would jeopardize talks between the United States, Egypt, Israel and Qatar that were seeking to mediate an end to the war and the release of prisoners. Prisoners detained in Gaza.

Talks to reach a ceasefire agreement continued in Qatar this week after failed attempts to reach an agreement before the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

Qatari officials said they were “cautiously optimistic” after discussions with the head of Israeli intelligence in Doha, although Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid al-Ansari said on Tuesday that the Israeli ground operation in Rafah in southern Gaza would hamper any talks.

Baez also said that this is “not the only draft resolution on the table.”

The language of other resolutions that the United States vetoed called for a ceasefire. This uses the phrase “decides the inevitable”, so he says it is important to have a ceasefire. “It doesn't really take one now,” he added.

“My suspicion is that what the United States is trying to do is to have this resolution ready while the talks continue in Doha — the idea is that you get some sort of agreement in Doha for a ceasefire and prisoner release, and then it gets passed.” This resolution is in the Security Council. I think this is the timing but we will need more clarity.

Blinken is on his sixth tour in the Middle East since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza. He has already met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, he is scheduled to meet with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Qatar and Jordan in Cairo, in addition to the UAE Minister of International Cooperation and the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Blinken is expected to arrive in Israel on Friday.