This is a very important moment for the Security Council. The secretary general has used a special power to ask for a ceasefire right away. It’s the first time he’s ever done this during his time in office.
Antonio Guterres will talk to council diplomats in a public meeting today after talking to many leaders on the phone, including the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and some Arab ministers.
Arab and Islamic countries quickly answered his letter with a proposal that will be voted on today.
Most of the council has been in favor of a quick stop to fighting, so everyone will be watching to see what the United States, who is Israel’s friend, will do. They haven’t said if they will use their veto again, but they have hinted that they will. The US thinks that it would not be helpful to make a decision right now.
If the council is stopped from making decisions by a member with a lot of power, it will make people wonder if the Security Council can do its job.
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