THE United Nations security council voted today for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the month of Ramadan and the release of all hostages.

The resolution to the 15-member council was supported by all members except the United States, which abstained.

The Israelis responded by cancelling a diplomatic delegation to the US over its failure to veto the demand for Israel to cease hostilities for the two remaining weeks of Ramadan.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the US of retreating from a “principled position” by allowing the vote to pass without conditioning the ceasefire on the release of the hostages held by Hamas. 

The Israeli delegation was to present White House officials with plans for an expected ground invasion of the strategic Gaza town of Rafah, where over one million Palestinian civilians have sought shelter from the invasion.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the US had been consistent in its support for a ceasefire as part of a hostage deal.

He said: “The reason we abstained is because this resolution text did not condemn Hamas.”

But Majed Bamya, Palestine’s deputy permanent observer at the UN, said: “It took almost six months but finally the security council has demanded an immediate ceasefire. 

“Now this demand must be translated into action to stop the assault against the Palestinian people on the ground.

Algeria’s ambassador, Amar Bendjama, the Arab representative on the council, thanked the council for “finally” demanding a ceasefire.

He said: “We look forward to the commitment and the compliance of the Israeli occupying power with this resolution, for them to put an end to the bloodbath without any conditions, to end the suffering of the Palestinian people.

“It is the responsibility of the security council to ensure the implementation of the provisions of this resolution.”

This is the first time that the US, Israel’s main military and political backer, has not blocked a resolution containing the word ceasefire.

But thousands are still expected to flood the streets of London on Saturday in another national demonstration to force a complete halt to the fighting after Ramadan.

Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German called on the public to “keep on pushing” for Palestine as support for Israel “is crumbling.”

Ms German said: “Now that Israeli-made famine in Gaza is commonly acknowledged, there is a scramble by those governments who have cheered on Israel in its brutal assault to distance themselves from it.

“[Prime Minister Rishi] Sunak and [Labour leader Sir Keir] Starmer here have carried out a series of manoeuvres to avoid accountability for their support for Israel.”

CND general secretary Kate Hudson welcomed the vote “that should have come months ago.”

She added: “Now we need to see the UN enforce its resolution — words alone are not enough.”

The Peace & Justice Project called the vote a historic moment which “must lead to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and justice for all lost since October 7.”

Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe said: “No-one should be fooled that this is any more than a respite that the US and Britain want to exploit for the sake of political appearance.”

MP for Islington North Jeremy Corbyn said: “The UN Security Council has finally voted for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It must be implemented, now.It is a stain on humanity that it took the deaths of 30,000 people to bring this about.

”We will continue to campaign for peace, justice, and a free Palestine.”

Prior to today’s landmark vote, the US had vetoed three resolutions demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, the most recent an Arab-backed measure on February 20.

That resolution was supported by 13 council members with one abstention, reflecting the overwhelming support for a ceasefire.

Last Friday Russia and China vetoed a US-sponsored resolution which made no mention of an end to the fighting.

Following the vote, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said: “The security council just approved a long-awaited resolution on Gaza, demanding an immediate ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

He added: “This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable.”

British ambassador to the council Barbara Woodward said they “regret” that the resolution did not condemn Hamas.

But, she said: “The resolution sends a clear and united message on the need for international humanitarian law to be upheld and for aid to be scaled up urgently, including the lifting of all barriers impeding its delivery.”

She added that the “humanitarian pause” needed to be used to chart the way to a “sustainable peace without a return to fighting.”

Meanwhile, the number of Palestinians killed by the Israelis in Gaza has increased to 32,333, according to the Health Ministry. The ministry says that at least two-thirds of the dead are women and children.

At least 74,694 people have also been wounded by Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7 when Hamas carried out its surprise attack during which 1,200 people were killed and around 250 others taken hostage.

Gaza faces a humanitarian catastrophe, with a report from an international authority on hunger warning on March 18 that famine is imminent in northern Gaza and that escalation of the war could push half of the territory’s 2.3 million people to the brink of starvation.

As Palestinians struggle against the continual bombardment and the onset of famine, the main hospital in Gaza also continues to be under siege.

Palestinians who fled the siege of al-Shifa Hospital have described Israeli tanks and armoured bulldozers surrounding the hospital.

Jameel al-Ayoubi, one of thousands of Palestinians sheltering at the hospital, saw Israeli tanks and armoured bulldozers drive over at least four bodies in the courtyard.

He said ambulances were also crushed by the armoured vehicles. 

Al Jazeera reported that witnesses shared terrifying scenes taking place at the besieged hospital, including Israeli soldiers executing a group of eight people.

Two other hospitals, both at Khan Younis in southern Gaza, are also reportedly under siege.

The Nasser and al-Amal hospitals are said to be surrounded by military vehicles with attack drones encircling the facilities.

As well as being bombed and shelled, it is being reported that people sheltering inside are being instructed to evacuate, wearing only their underwear.

Medical teams working with the Emergency Medical Team (EMT), Medical Aid for Palestinians, the International Rescue Committee and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund describe conditions at the European Gaza Hospital, near Khan Younis, as “unimaginable.”

In a press release, the groups said their medics have witnessed horrific scenes at the hospital, one of Gaza’s last functioning medical facilities, with patients “dying from infections with evidence of serious malnutrition.”

In Rafah, hospitals have largely run out of basic medical supplies and the space to provide medical care to the increasing numbers presenting themselves.