The United States has drafted a new UN Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza and opposing Israel's plans to launch a major ground offensive in Rafah.
According to Reuters, Washington also plans to veto a competing draft resolution drafted by Algeria demanding an immediate ceasefire on humanitarian grounds – amid fears it could jeopardize talks between the US, Egypt, Israel and Qatar.
Until now, American officials have been loathe to use the word “ceasefire” at the United Nations, but the new text reflects the language used by President Joe Biden in his talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
David Cameron arrives at Mount Pleasant Air Base in the Falkland Islands. Pic: PA
If the resolution is passed, the Security Council “will affirm its support for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, based on the formula of releasing all hostages, and calls for the lifting of all obstacles to the provision of widespread humanitarian assistance.”
Its passage requires nine supportive votes and no veto by the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China.
The text adds: “Under the current circumstances, any major ground attack on Rafah would lead to further harm to civilians and their further displacement, including the possibility of their displacement to neighboring countries.”
More than a million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah, and there are international fears that such an attack would exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.
Read more from Sky News:
“Gaza is witnessing the worst humanitarian crisis it has seen in 50 years.”
The size of the vast tent city in Rafah
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Netanyahu is defiant on Rafah
Speaking in the Falkland Islands, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron also called for a “stop in the fighting now” in Gaza – and warned against an attack on Rafah.
He called for the hostages to be released and humanitarian aid to be allowed to flow “immediately.”
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Lord Cameron added: “We will have to see Hamas leaders leave Gaza, we will have to see the terror machine removed, and we will see a suitable horizon for the Palestinian people, and a new Palestinian government.” .
He added, “But let's make it happen. Let's stop the fighting now, release the hostages and then build on it from here. This is what we need to happen instead of the attack in Rafah.”
Ceasefire negotiations have faced difficulties in recent weeks, with little signs of progress.
