Israel’s war on Gaza, now spanning 242 days, has killed over 36,479 Palestinians, with a staggering 71% of them being women, children and infants, leaving another 82,777 wounded, as officials tally toll of colossal human suffering.
The US has said it wants the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution backing the proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden to end Israel’s war in Gaza.
It circulated a one-page draft text to the 15-member council.
A resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the US, France, Britain, China or Russia to pass.
The draft “stresses the importance of the parties adhering to the terms of the deal once agreed, with the aim of bringing about a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
“Numerous leaders and governments, including in the region, have endorsed this plan and we call on the Security Council to join them in calling for implementation of this deal without delay and without further conditions,” US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement.
Israeli missile strike on a residence in the Bureij camp has resulted in the killing of four Palestinians while multiple people have been wounded, WAFA news agency reports.
According to WAFA correspondent, Israeli warplanes targeted the Al Maghari and Al Ahlam residential towers.
They also shelled two more towers in the camp.
The US proposal envisions a three-phase agreement that would culminate with a multi-year process to rebuild the badly-damaged coastal enclave, and the return of all hostages, living and dead, held in Gaza.
The first phase would start with a six-week cease-fire during which a first round of hostages held in Gaza would be released, including women, the elderly and the injured, in exchange for the release of what Biden said would be “hundreds” of Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli forces would also withdraw from what a senior Biden administration official called “densely populated areas.”
The remains of some of the hostages who have died would also be returned, and Palestinian civilians would be allowed to return to their homes and neighborhoods throughout Gaza, including in the north where Israel has implemented sweeping restrictions.
Humanitarian aid deliveries would also scale up dramatically to reach 600 trucks per day, according to Biden.
The final phase includes the commencement of Gaza’s reconstruction, which is estimated to take up to five years, and the return of any additional hostage remains still held in Gaza.