New York, 25 March 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Almost six months into the Gaza war, the UN Security Council on Monday passed a resolution for the first time calling for an "immediate ceasefire" for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The most powerful body of the United Nations expressed "deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip."

It is also demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by the militant Palestinian Hamas organization.

The United States, which holds veto power, abstained from the vote on Monday, thereby enabling the resolution to be adopted. The 14 other members of the committee voted in favour.

The resolution, which is binding under international law, further increases international pressure on the parties to the conflict, Israel and Hamas.

However, it is unclear to what extent the resolution will have any influence on decisions made by the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Hamas regarding the further course of the war.

Immediately before the vote, Netanyahu threatened to cancel the planned trip of two of his envoys to Washington at short notice if the US did not use its veto power to prevent the resolution.

Previous efforts to have the UN Security Council call for a ceasefire had failed, mainly due to the resistance of the US veto power.

As Israel's closest ally, Washington has opposed a ceasefire since the start of the war in October last year and has vetoed three other resolutions. At best, US representatives called for shorter "ceasefires."

Photo: MIA Archive