Gaza Ceasefire: Full text of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2728 (March 25, 2024)
UN Security Council Resolution 2728 (March 25, 2027)
The Security Council,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling all of its relevant resolutions on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,
Reiterating its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and in this regard deploring all attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as all violence and hostilities against civilians, and all acts of terrorism, and recalling that the taking of hostages is prohibited under international law,
Expressing deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,
Acknowledging the ongoing diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, aimed at reaching a cessation of hostilities, releasing the hostages and increasing the provision and distribution of humanitarian aid,
1. Demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire, and also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs, and further demands that the parties comply with their obligations under international law in relation to all persons they detain;
2. Emphasises the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to and reinforce the protection of civilians in the entire Gaza Strip and reiterates its demand for the lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale, in line with international humanitarian law as well as resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023);
3. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.1
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The Resolution is not available to the public on the U.N. Website where it should be published.2 This is a huge and recurrent problem with the U.N. website. The one thing the U.N. ought to be able to do is to publish Security Council Resolutions in a manner accessible to the public in a timely manner. Apparently no member of the Security Council pays attention to these administrative natters, no matter how important they may be.
Resolution 2728 is notable because it is the first Security Council “demanding” a “ceasefire” which was not vetoed by the United States. However, worth noting is tge fact that it also “demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” The U.S. failure to veto the resolution could prove significant if it marks a change in the previous American policy of vetoing any Security Council resolution perceived to be adverse to Israel’s interests.
James Rowles is a former Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School and professor of international law at other universities.
Published in The National (UAE), See “Full text of the UN Security Council resolution on Gaza ceasefire; Resolution received 14 votes in favour and one abstention, from the US,” The National, March 25, 2024.
See U.N. Docs, S/RES/2728(2024), at https://undocs.org/Home/Mobile?FinalSymbol=S%2FRES%2F2728(2024)&Language=E&DeviceType=Desktop&LangRequested=False
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