The US has presented a revised UN Security Council resolution, on Thursday, calling for an “immediate ceasefire tied to the release of hostages.”

The United States has circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire linked to the release of hostages” in the Gaza Strip, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Anthony Blinken made this announcement during his most recent Middle East tour, stating “we actually have a resolution that we put forward right now, before the Security Council that does call for an immediate ceasefire tied to the release of hostages.”

Previous Vetoes

This development comes after the US has repeatedly blocked any ceasefire resolutions, as recently as February 20.

In total, the US has vetoed three Security Council ceasefire resolutions since October 7.

On October 18, the US vetoed a proposal that called for a humanitarian pause in the fighting. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the UN, justified the veto, saying “we are on the ground doing the diplomacy … we need to let that diplomacy play out”.

On December 8, the US vetoed a proposal calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” on the grounds that an unconditional ceasefire was both “unrealistic” and “dangerous.”

Most recently, on February 20, the US vetoed Algeria’s resolution calling for an “immediate” ceasefire, stating that it may jeopardize ongoing negotiation talks.

The New Proposal

US officials had been negotiating an alternative text since blocking an Algerian draft resolution. That alternative, focusing on support for a six-week truce in exchange for the release of hostages, had little chance of winning approval, according to diplomatic sources.

This new US proposal, as seen by AFP, stresses “the need for an immediate and durable ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides, enable the delivery of essential humanitarian aid, and alleviate suffering… in conjunction with the release of hostages still held.”

In recent weeks, Washington has upped the pressure on its ally, while insisting that Hamas militants must immediately release the hostages seized by militants during its October 7 attacks on Israel.

No vote has yet been scheduled on this text.

With AFP