The United Nations Security Council on Monday backed a proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and urged the Palestinian militants to accept the deal aimed at ending the eight-month war.
Hamas welcomed the adoption of the U.S.-drafted resolution and said in a statement that it is ready to cooperate with mediators over implementing the principles of the plan "that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance."
Russia abstained from the U.N. vote, while the remaining 14 Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution supporting a three-phase cease-fire plan laid out by Biden on May 31 that he described as an Israeli initiative.