Amid the escalating war between Israel-Hamas conflict, Russia proposed a draft resolution in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday. The draft calls for a humanitarian ceasefire while also condemning the violence against civilians and all other acts of terrorism, as per media sources.The contents of the single-page draft resolutions mention the release of hostages, humanitarian aid access in Gaza and the safe evacuation of civilians in need. The text was presented in a closed-door meeting among the 15-member council on Friday, which deliberated on the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.“Russia cannot accept the complete inaction and lack of any reaction on the part of the UNSC,” Russias UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said after the meeting while adding that Russia was also ready to mediate between Israel and the Palestinians.#Nebenzia at stakeout on the #MiddleEast: We call for an immediate ceasefire & the prevention of further escalation of the conflict. We are convinced that the UNSC must act to put an end to the bloodshed & restart peace negotiations.🔗https://t.co/eETMclPRZ9 pic.twitter.com/qeD36Hgk47— Russia at the United Nations (@RussiaUN) October 13, 2023 Israel orders evacuationIsrael had earlier ordered the evacuation of residents of north Gaza and moved them towards the southern territory, however many civilians had defied this order. Following this, many countries had urged Israel to hold off attacking northern Gaza which houses more than a million civilians.According to media reports the one-page draft resolution does not mention Hamas in any form and refers only to Israel and the Palestinians due to which it has been considered as a non-serious text, a UN diplomat said.The draft resolution will require at least nine votes and no vetoes from the permanent members of the SC for it to pass. The United States has traditionally shielded its ally Israel from any Security Council action.However, it is not yet clear if the Russian Federation will put the draft resolution to vote.Israel-Hamas conflictLast week Hamas carried out one of the biggest assaults in Israel after it launched a surprise attack on Saturday that killed more than 1300 Israeilis till now. The Palestinian militant group fired dozens of rockets and took hostages in Gaza in the attack.Following this Israel retaliated with thousands of rockets fired towards with the most intensive air strikes of its 75-year conflict with the Palestinians. Gaza authorities said 1,900 people have been killed.The Benjamin Netanyahu government has also closed off the borders of Gaza and cut off the electricity, food and water supplies of Gaza which has left more than 2.2 million people trapped in the densely populated Strip.
