ISRAEL CEASEFIRE: PERMANENT OR NOT?

After more than five months involving several attempts, the United Nations Security Council on 25 March passed a resolution for an immediate ceasefire of Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip.

However, the Russian representative claimed the United States deleted the word 'permanent' from the draft resolution just before voting. Russia then failed at attempting to pass an oral amendment adding 'permanent' to the resolution. That makes the ceasefire only effective for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends in two weeks.

The final resolution also calls for the release of 134 Israeli hostages held in Gaza. However, it did not mention the more than 2,000 Palestinians held without charge in Israeli prisons.

This resolution is legally binding, just as any international law. UN Secretary-General António Guterres tweeted that a failure to implement it would be 'unforgivable.'

Only the United States abstained, leading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a meeting in Washington between two Israeli officials and the Biden administration to discuss the military operation.

So far, Israel's attacks have killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, injured more than 74,000 and destroyed about 70 per cent of homes. Further, the United Nations has warned famine is imminent in northern Gaza between now and May. The international body has reported that 27 children have died of malnutrition and dehydration and that one out of three children now suffer acute malnutrition, up from 15.6 per cent in January.