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4A Tuesday, March 26, 2024 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia I gainesvilletimes.com WORLD UN demands cease-fire in Gaza during Ramadan Craig Ruttle Associated Press Linda Thomas-Greenfield, United States Ambassador and Representative to the United Nations, holds to abstain her vote as the United Nations Security Council passed a cease-fire resolution in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, its first demand to halt fighting at U.N. headquarters, Monday, March 25. BY EDITH M.LEDERER Associated Press UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Secu rity Council on Monday issued its first demand for a cease-fire in Gaza, with the U.S. angering Israel by abstaining from the vote. Israel responded by cancel ing a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation in the strongest public clash between the allies since the war began. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the U.S. of “retreating” from a “prin cipled position” by allowing the vote to pass without con ditioning the cease-fire on the release of hostages held by Hamas. The resolution was approved 14-0 by the 15-member council after the U.S. decided not to use its veto power on the measure, which also demanded the release of all hostages taken captive during Hamas' Oct. 7 surprise attack in southern Israel. The chamber broke into loud applause after the vote. The U.S. vetoed past Security Council cease-fire resolutions in large part because of the failure to tie them directly to the release of hostages, the failure to condemn Hamas' attacks and the delicacy of ongo ing negotiations. American officials have argued that the cease-fire and hostage releases are linked, while Russia, China and many other council members favored unconditional calls for cease-fires. The resolution approved Monday demands the release of hostages but does not make it a condition for the cease-fire for the month of Ramadan, which ends in April. Hamas said it wel comed the U.N.'s move but said the cease-fire needs to be permanent. “We confirm our readiness to engage in an immediate prisoner exchange process that leads to the release of prisoners on both sides,” the group said. For months, the militant group has sought a deal that includes a complete end to the conflict. The U.S. decision to abstain comes at a time of growing tensions between President Joe Biden's admin istration and Netanyahu over Israel's prosecution of the war, the high number of civilian casualties and the limited amounts of humani tarian assistance reaching Gaza. In addition, the well- known antagonism between Netanyahu and Biden — which dates from Biden's tenure as vice president — deepened after Biden ques tioned Israel's strategy in combating Hamas. Then Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Biden ally, suggested that Netanyahu was not operating in Israel's best interests and called for Israel to hold new elections. During its U.S. visit, the Israeli delegation was to present White House offi cials with its plans for a possible ground invasion of Rafah, a city on the Egyp tian border in southern Gaza where over 1 million Pales tinian civilians have sought shelter from the war. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. had been “consistent” in its support for a cease-fire as part of a hos tage deal. “The reason we abstained is because this res olution text did not condemn Hamas,” Kirby said. He said the administra tion was “very disappointed” at the cancellation of talks on “viable alternatives” to a ground invasion of Rafah. Because Ramadan ends April 9, the cease-fire demand would last for just two weeks, though the draft says the pause in fighting should lead “to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.” U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the resolution “spoke out in support of the ongoing diplomatic efforts,” adding that negotiators were “get ting closer” to a deal for a cease-fire with the release of all hostages, “but we're not there yet.” She urged the council and U.N. members across the world to “speak out and demand unequivocally that Hamas accepts the deal on the table.” Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. abstained because “certain edits” the U.S. requested were ignored, including adding a condem nation of Hamas. The resolution, put for ward by the 10 elected coun cil members, was backed by Russia and China and the 22-nation Arab Group at the United Nations. Algeria's U.N. ambas sador, the Arab representa tive on the council, thanked the council for “finally” demanding a cease-fire. “We look forward to the commitment and the compli ance of the Israeli occupying power with this resolution, for them to put an end to the bloodbath without any con ditions, to end the suffering of the Palestinian people.” he said. Shortly before Monday's vote, the elected members changed the final draft reso lution to drop the word “per manent” from its demand that a Ramadan cease-fire should lead to a “sustainable cease-fire,” apparently at the request of the United States. Russia complained that dropping the word could allow Israel “to resume its military operation in the Gaza Strip at any moment” after Ramadan and proposed an amendment to restore it. That amendment was defeated because it failed to get the minimum nine “yes” vote. Since the start of the war, the Security Council has adopted two resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, but none has called for a cease-fire. The United States has vetoed three resolutions demanding a cease-fire in Gaza, the most recent an Arab-backed measure on Feb. 20. That resolu tion was supported by 13 council members with one abstention, reflecting the overwhelming support for a cease-fire. a Apartments FOR RENT RPC Partners 2 Bedrin. Apartments Gainesville, Oakwood & Flowery Branch $ 300 Move in Special Plus Deposit 770-654-2807 NOW HIRING Off-Road Truck Drivers, Scraper Operators, and CDL Drivers/Heavy Equipment Operator Competitive pay, Great Benefits (401 k, Health Ins., Vacation) Apply in Person 1364 Candler Rd. 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