E10-initiated UN Security Council Resolution:
Call for Immediate Ceasefire

The following is the full text of the E-10-initiated (Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Switzerland) draft resolution S/2024/835 at the UN Security Council.
The draft resolution was vetoed by the U.S., which cited concerns over the absence of provisions conditioning the release of hostages as a prerequisite for a ceasefire. All 14 other members supported the resolution, including the United Kingdom and France.

The Security Council,

Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and recalling all of its relevant resolutions on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, including resolutions 2712, 2720 (2023), 2728 and 2735 (2024),

Reaffirming that all parties to conflicts must comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and, as applicable, human rights law, and underscoring the importance of holding accountable those responsible for all violations of international law,

Deploring all attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as all violence and hostilities against civilians, and all acts of terrorism, recalling its rejection of any forced displacement of the civilian population, including children, in violation of international law including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and recalling that the taking of hostages, is prohibited under international law,

Underscoring that respect for the International Court of Justice and its functions, including but not limited to the exercise of its advisory jurisdiction, is essential to international law and justice and to an international order based on the rule of law,

Expressing its deep alarm over the ongoing catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the lack of adequate healthcare services and the state of food insecurity creating a risk of famine notably in the north, and its grave impact on children, women and other civilians,

Commending the ongoing efforts of the United Nations under the leadership of its Secretary-General, and regional and international actors, toward de-escalation and to secure the release of the hostages and address the humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the importance of all parties facilitating the provision of humanitarian assistance by UN agencies and other humanitarian actors, further emphasizing that actions obstructing the operations of these actors may contravene the UN Charter and undermine international peace and security efforts, expressing deep alarm at the number of humanitarian workers killed in Gaza, and recalling its demand in resolutions 2712 (2023), 2720 (2023), and 2728 (2024) that all parties to the conflict comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, including with regard to humanitarian access, the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and their freedom of movement,

Reiterating its unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution, with the Gaza Strip as part of the Palestinian State, and where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions, and in this regard stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority,

1. Recalls the Security Council’s primary responsibility to uphold international peace and security and demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire to be respected by all parties; and further reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages;
2. Reiterates its demand that the parties comply with their obligations under international law in relation to persons they detain;
3. Demands immediate access by the civilian population in the Gaza Strip to basic services and humanitarian assistance indispensable to its survival, while rejecting any effort to starve Palestinians, and further demands the facilitation of full, rapid, safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance at scale to and throughout the Gaza Strip and its delivery to all Palestinian civilians who need it, including to civilians in besieged north Gaza, who are in urgent need of immediate humanitarian relief, under the coordination of the United Nations;
4. Calls on all parties to fully comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians, especially women and children, and persons hors de combat as well as with regard to the protection of civilian objects;
5. Demands that the parties fully, unconditionally, and without delay implement all the provisions of Security Council resolution 2735 (2024), leading to, inter alia, the release of hostages, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the return of the remains of hostages who have been killed, the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighbourhoods in all areas of Gaza, including in the north, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza;
6. Underscores that UNRWA remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, calls on all parties to enable the Agency to carry out its mandate as adopted by the General Assembly, in all areas of operation, with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and to respect international humanitarian law, including the protection of UN and humanitarian facilities, and welcomes the Secretary-General’s and UNRWA’s commitment to fully implement the recommendations of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality;
7. Requests a written assessment from the Secretary-General on the implementation of this resolution within three (3) weeks of its adoption;
8. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive written report to the Security Council within 90 days of the adoption of this resolution which should include a needs assessment for Gaza in the short, medium and long-term, an elaboration of the humanitarian, social and economic consequences of the conflict in Gaza, and an overview of the work of different parts of the UN system relevant to Gaza along with recommendations on how to strengthen coordination across these parts;
9. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Source: UN Security Council Meetings & Outcomes Tables.