UN Security Council Demands Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

The UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an "immediate" ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas. The US abstained from the vote but supported the release of hostages taken during Hamas' October 7 surprise attack in southern Israel. The resolution was drafted by Algeria, the Arab bloc's current member on the Security Council. Israel had previously been averse to the term "ceasefire," and Washington had used its veto power to shield Israel from similar resolutions. The medical situation in Gaza's hospitals has reached a crisis state due to heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants since the start of the year. Israel announced it would stop working with the UN Relief Works Agency. The ceasefire is expected to last for the month of Ramadan, which ends on April 9. Russia and China had previously vetoed a US-sponsored resolution due to its lack of an immediate ceasefire demand. The US ambassador to the UN blamed Hamas for the delay in passing the resolution.