The resolution proposed by Israel's main ally also warns it not to launch an offensive in Rafah.
The United States has drafted a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip “as soon as possible” and opposing an Israeli ground offensive on the southern city of Rafah.
The draft, seen by Al Jazeera on Monday, said the Security Council should underline “its support for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practical, based on the formula that all hostages be released” and at the same time time “lift all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale” in Gaza.
The US draft also warns Israel against launching a ground offensive in Rafah, saying: “The Security Council should emphasize that a ground offensive of such magnitude should not be carried out, under the current circumstances.”
Israel has said it plans to attack Rafah, where more than 1.4 million of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza have sought refuge. Those plans have sparked widespread international concern that such a move would kill large numbers of civilians and dramatically worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which is on the brink of famine, according to the UN.
Algeria, the current Arab member of the Security Council, presented an initial draft resolution more than two weeks ago, which would demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
But U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield signaled it would be vetoed, saying it could jeopardize “delicate negotiations” over captives taken by Hamas and other armed groups from Israel to Gaza on Oct. 7.
The United States, Egypt, Israel and Qatar have held talks on a possible truce between Israel and Hamas and the exchange of captives held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
From UN headquarters in New York, Al Jazeera diplomatic editor James Bays says Washington's draft resolution appeared to show a significant change in language.
“For the first time, the United States proposes the word ceasefire. … That is significant because Israel did not want the word ceasefire in any resolution, and now it is the United States that is proposing it,” Bays said.
Since October 7, Washington has sought to protect its ally Israel from UN action and has twice vetoed Security Council resolutions. But it also abstained twice, allowing the council to adopt resolutions that aimed to increase humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and called for urgent and prolonged humanitarian pauses in the fighting.
“The US draft now raises the idea of a ceasefire, but it doesn't say there should be an immediate ceasefire….so this may not be acceptable to the Russians,” Bays said.
Both the United States and Russia are permanent members of the council with veto power.
Noting Washington's warning to Israel about launching an operation in Rafah, Bays said it showed that, according to the United States, this operation would cause more harm to civilians and also lead to their displacement, particularly to neighboring countries, which in turn would have serious implications. on regional security.
“So something very clearly has changed in Washington in the last 24 hours. “They have decided to be tougher on Israel,” Bays said.
It is not immediately clear when or if the US draft resolution will be put to a vote.
At least 29,092 people have been killed and 69,028 injured in the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip since October 7, according to Palestinian authorities. At least 1,139 people were killed in Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, according to an Al Jazeera tally based on official Israeli figures.
