The United Nations Security Council has voted to adopt a US-drafted resolution backing a proposal outlined by President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in Gaza.
Russia abstained from the vote, while the remaining 14 council members voted in favor. The US finalised its text yesterday after six days of negotiations among the council.
Mr Biden laid out a three-phase ceasefire plan on 31 May that he described as an Israeli initiative.
Some Security Council members questioned whether Israel had accepted the plan to end the fighting in Gaza.
The resolution welcomes the new ceasefire proposal, "which Israel accepted, calls upon Hamas to also accept it, and urges both parties to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition."
It also goes into detail about the proposal, and spells out that "if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, the ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue."
How is today's UN Security Council Gaza vote different?
Riyad al-Maliki, advisor to the Palestinian president, told a local radio station: "Until now, there are positive signals. We hope that this proposal is accepted" while commenting on the expected UN Security Council vote.
In March the Security Council demanded for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas.
For months, negotiators from the US, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a ceasefire.
Hamas says it wants a permanent end to the war in Gaza and Israeli withdrawal from the enclave of 2.3 million people.
Israel is retaliating against Hamas, which rules Gaza, over an attack by its militants on 7 October.
More than 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage by Hamas, according to Israeli tallies. More than 100 hostages are believed to remain captive in Gaza.
Israel launched an air, ground and sea assault on the Palestinian territory, killing more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
