US asks Security Council to vote on draft resolution supporting ceasefire in Gaza

On June 9, the US proposed that the United Nations Security Council vote on a draft resolution supporting the plan for an “immediate ceasefire and hostage release” between Israel and Hamas.

The spokesman for the US Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Mr. Nate Evans, gave the above information, but did not specify when this vote would take place.

On the same day, the US military said a US cargo plane dropped more than 10 tons of food in northern Gaza, after such deliveries were suspended due to Israeli activities in the area.

With Gazans in dire need of humanitarian assistance after eight months of conflict, the US has turned to air and sea deliveries of aid as Israel delays sending aid by land.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that it would continue to plan air deliveries. To date, the US has dropped more than 1,050 tonnes of humanitarian aid, in addition to the aid delivered via a temporary US-built jetty to the Gaza coast.

In a related development, on the same day, the Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Ms. Cindy McCain, said that the program has "paused" the distribution of humanitarian aid from the US pier due to concerns about the safety of humanitarian workers.

According to Ms. McCain, on June 8, two of WFP's warehouses were hit by rockets, injuring one of the organization's staff.

The official stressed that the conflicting parties need to reach a ceasefire so that WFP can continue distributing aid to Gaza residents.

The pier was built by the US military off the coast of Gaza. It began operating in mid-May but was partially lost on May 28 due to rough seas.

After repairs, the pier reopened on June 8, allowing the transport of 492 tonnes of food and other aid items worth £1.1 million ($1.4 million) to Gaza.