Algeria has drafted a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a move that the United States has repeatedly vetoed despite the skyrocketing death toll due to Israel's war on the Gaza Strip.
The draft also "rejects the forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population" demands all parties to comply with international law and calls for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip.
Algeria shared the draft with the 15-member council on Wednesday, 31 January, following a discussion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling last week that ordered Israel to take action to prevent acts of genocide, but it stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire.
It was not immediately known when or if Algeria's draft resolution could be put to a vote.
In the Security Council, a resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the United States, Britain, France, China or Russia to be adopted.
Passing such a resolution that mentions explicitly a ceasefire remains most likely impossible as Washington continues to oppose a ceasefire in Gaza, claiming that it would benefit Hamas – a Palestinian militant group in the strip.
Last December, the Security Council passed a resolution aimed at increasing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The resolution fell short of explicitly calling for a ceasefire, following a week of vote delays and intense negotiations to prevent a potential veto from Israel's ally, the US.
Washington instead supports 'humanitarian pauses in fighting' to protect civilians and free hostages. Since October 7, Israel killed over 27,000 people and wounded 66,000 in Gaza.
Before the start of the ICJ trial, Algeria did not officially back the South African genocide case. However, last month, Algeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs saluted South Africa's efforts after the ICJ's ruling, which it considered "the beginning of the end of the era of impunity for the Israeli occupation."
Since achieving independence, Algeria has consistently upheld strong connections with Palestine, pledging allegiance to the Palestinian cause — a commitment grounded in the shared long and bloody struggles of both nations under occupation.
In 2022, Algiers hosted mediation talks between rival Palestinian groups, leading to a reconciliation agreement that ended 15 years of discord between the factions.