The United Nations Security Council will vote Monday to adopt a resolution demanding an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza, after three previous draft resolutions were blocked by the United States.

 

On Friday, Russia and China exercised their veto power at the UN Security Council to dismiss an American-backed draft resolution for the first time, calling for an "immediate" ceasefire in Gaza linked to the release of captives taken during Hamas' Oct. 7 “Operation Aqsa Typhoon.”

 

The American draft, which was vetoed, did not explicitly call for an immediate ceasefire but used a formulation considered vague by Arab states and China, as well as Russia, which condemned the "hypocritical spectacle" of the United States.

 

The new resolution to be put to vote on Monday is the result of the work of non-permanent members of the Council who negotiated with the United States throughout the weekend in an attempt to avoid another failure, according to diplomatic sources expressing some optimism about the outcome of the vote.

 

A diplomat told Agence France-Presse on Sunday, "We expect, barring any last-minute developments, that the resolution will be adopted and the United States will not vote against it."

 

The latest version of the resolution "calls for an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan," which began two weeks ago, "leading to a permanent cessation of hostilities," and also "calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages."