US circulates draft UN resolution seeking immediate Gaza ceasefire

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.

The diplomat made his announcement whilst on a tour of the Middle East that will include a stop in Israel, as Washington pushes for a truce in the nearly six-month war.

Key Israel backer the United States has vetoed previous UN Security Council votes on the conflict, objecting as recently as in February to the use of the term "immediate" in a draft submitted by Algeria.

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

"Well, in fact, we actually have a resolution that we put forward right now that's before the United Nations Security Council that does call for an immediate ceasefire tied to the release of hostages, and we hope very much that countries will support that," Blinken said in Saudi Arabia.

"I think that would send a strong message, a strong signal," he told Saudi media outlet Al Hadath on Wednesday evening.

Agence France-Presse