Many world leaders have welcomed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that demands an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza. While the United States abstained from the vote on Monday, the remaining 14 council members voted for the resolution. The resolution, which the US said it did not agree with in its entirety, calls for an \u201cimmediate ceasefire\u201d for the duration of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends in two weeks. It calls for the ceasefire to lead to a \u201clasting\u201d truce, for the release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and for respect for international law from each party when it comes to detainments. Here are some reactions from key officials around the world: Palestinian Ministry of Foreign AffairsThe ministry said that adopting the resolution is a step in the right direction to end the five-month war, to allow the entry of aid, and to begin the return of those displaced. The ministry also called on UNSC member states to fulfill their legal responsibilities to implement the resolution immediately. The ministry stressed the importance of achieving a permanent ceasefire that extends beyond Ramadan \u2013 along with securing the entry of aid, working to release prisoners, and preventing forced displacement. UN Secretary-General Antonio GuterresThe UN official said the resolution \u201cmust be implemented\u201d, adding that failure to do so would be \u201cunforgivable\u201d. China\u2019s ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun\u201cAfter repeated vetos of the council\u2019s actions, the United States finally decided to stop obstructing the council\u2019s demands for an immediate ceasefire. Despite all this, the US still tried to find all kinds of excuses and made accusations against China,\u201d said China\u2019s ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun. \u201cFor the lives that have already perished, the council resolution today comes too late, but for the millions of people in Gaza who remain mired in an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, this resolution, if fully and effectively implemented, could still bring long-awaited hope,\u201d he added. Russia\u2019s ambassador to the UN Vasily Alekseyevich NebenzyaNebenzya said Moscow hopes the resolution will be used in the \u201cinterests of peace\u201d rather than advancing the \u201cinhumane Israeli operation against Palestinians\u201d. He said Russia preferred a version of the text that demanded that a Ramadan ceasefire would lead to \u201ca permanent sustainable ceasefire\u201d. \u201cWe are disappointed that it did not make it through. Nevertheless, we believe it is fundamentally important to vote in favour of peace. The council must continue to work on achieving a permanent ceasefire,\u201d he said. French ambassador to the UN Nicolas de RiviereDe Riviere said the adoption of the resolution shows that the UNSC can \u201cstill act when all of its members make the necessary effort to discharge their mandate\u201d. \u201cThe Security Council\u2019s silence on Gaza was becoming deafening. It is high time now for the council to finally contribute to finding a solution,\u201d he told the session. He also said that work needs to be done to establish a permanent ceasefire and to revive the political process to bring about the two-state solution. UK ambassador to the UN Barbara WoodwardWoodward said London \u201cregrets\u201d that the resolution did not condemn the October 7 Hamas attack and stressed that the United Kingdom \u201ccondemns\u201d the attacks \u201cunequivocally\u201d. Woodward also said that the resolution sends a \u201cclear\u201d message on the need for international humanitarian law to be upheld. \u201cWe call for this resolution to be implemented immediately. President, we need to focus on how we chart the way from an immediate humanitarian pause to a lasting, sustainable peace without a return to fighting,\u201d she said. \u201cThat means the formation of a new Palestinian government for the West Bank and Gaza accompanied by an international support package,\u201d she said. Algeria representative to the UN Amar BendjamaBendjama said the Security Council was \u201cfinally shouldering its responsibility as the primary organ responsible for maintaining international peace and security\u201d. \u201cI would like to thank all the council members for their flexibility and the constructive way that allowed us today to adopt this long-awaited resolution, [a] resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in order to put an end to the massacres that unfortunately are still ongoing over the five months,\u201d he said. European Commission President Ursula von der LeyenThe European Commission\u2019s president welcomed the passing of the resolution. \u201cImplementation of this resolution is vital for the protection of all civilians,\u201d she said on X. Human Rights Watch UN director Louis CharbonneauCharbonneau said Israel \u201cneeds to immediately respond\u201d to the resolution \u201cby facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, ending its starvation of Gaza\u2019s population, and halting unlawful attacks\u201d. \u201cPalestinian armed groups should immediately release all civilians held hostage. The US and other countries should use their leverage to end atrocities by suspending arms transfers to Israel,\u201d he said. South AfricaForeign minister Naledi Pandor welcomed the resolution on public radio but stressed that \u201cthe ball is in the court of the Security Council\u201d. SpainSpanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez applauded the resolution, saying it was \u201cin line with what Spain has been saying since the start of the conflict. \u201cThe realisation of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security is the only realistic and viable solution for the region,\u201d he wrote on X. The NetherlandsOutgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte welcomed the resolution, adding: \u201cWhat is now needed is to stop the violence, free the hostages, immediately send in vastly more humanitarian aid to Gaza and find a lasting solution.\u201d The country\u2019s far-right leader, Geert Wilders, who swept to victory in recent polls, voiced support to \u201cmy Israeli friends in fighting Hamas\u201d. \u201cThe UN, USA and Europe don\u2019t understand you are fighting an existential war. Against the dark forces of hate and destruction called Hamas,\u201d he said on X. TurkeyTurkey called the resolution and prospective return of humanitarian access to Gaza \u201ca positive step\u201d. \u201cWe hope that Israel will comply with the requirements of this resolution without delay,\u201d Turkish foreign affairs spokesman Oncu Keceli wrote on X. Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International\u2019s Secretary General Agnes Callamard said the resolution is \u201clong overdue\u201d. \u201cThis resolution must be accompanied by a shift in political pressure, including an immediate and comprehensive arms embargo,\u201d Callamard added. Malaysia\u2019s Prime Minister Anwar IbrahimMalaysia\u2019s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed the country\u2019s endorsement of the resolution in the \u201cstrongest terms\u201d and said it should be immediately enforced. \u201cWe must immediately relieve the people of Gaza from the immense pain and suffering they have now endured for almost six months,\u201d Anwar said in a statement. \u201cParticularly, the United States must prevail upon its ally to respect the will of the international community and accordingly observe the ceasefire and permit the immediate and massive entry of emergency aid.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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