Russian Satellite News Agency, Doha, March 21 (Xinhua) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters during his visit to Saudi Arabia that the United States has submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
“Blinken expressed hope that the draft resolution will receive support from other countries,” Sky News Arabia reported. The draft is expected to be submitted to the Security Council for a vote this week.
The draft stressed the need for “an immediate and sustainable ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides of the conflict within the framework of the hostage release agreement and ensure the promotion of a lasting peace to alleviate people’s suffering,” the TV station reported.
This is Blinken’s sixth trip to the Middle East since Israel launched war in the Gaza Strip. He will hold talks with the foreign ministers of five Arab countries in Cairo on the 21st.
On the morning of October 7, 2023, the Gaza Strip fired more than 3,000 rockets at Israel. After the rocket attack, Hamas armed personnel entered the southern border area of Israel to attack passers-by and kidnap hostages. The Palestinian “Islamic Resistance Movement” (Hamas), which actually controls the Gaza Strip, announced the launch of the “Aqsa Flood” operation against Israel. The Israel Defense Forces immediately announced the launch of Operation Iron Sword against Hamas, and Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Israel was in a state of war. Israeli Defense Minister Galante ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, cutting off the supply of food, electricity and natural gas; Israeli Energy Minister Katz later announced that the water supply to the Gaza Strip had also been cut off.
According to official data, since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have killed more than 31,900 people and injured more than 74,000 people; about 1,200 people in Israel have died and more than 5,000 people have been injured.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov previously stated that the bloody conflict between Palestine and Israel should be stopped immediately, and he called for a ceasefire and an end to the war. Lavrov also said that the way out to solve the Palestinian issue lies in the implementation of the “two-state solution” based on United Nations Security Council resolutions.
