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Following a huge night at the UN Security Council in New York, for the first time, a draft resolution was adopted that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and the unconditional release of all hostages. Hostilities are continuing in the Gaza Strip despite the first UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire.

Those in attendance applauded as the chairperson read out the result. The UN Secretary General Ant贸nio Guterres said: "This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable.鈥�

Israel said the draft resolution stopped short of making the release of hostages a condition for a ceasefire, and argued that the draft resolution would embolden Hamas.

Hamas welcomed the resolution, while the Palestinian envoy to the UN said it should be a crucial moment to end the conflict.

Newsday asked Frank Lowenstein - the former US special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations under Barack Obama - to reflect on the significance of the US not deploying its veto, and essentially allowing the draft resolution to pass:

鈥淭his is a very significant diplomatic break with the Israelis. The Biden administration acknowledged it had to back up its words with action. What the Israelis are saying is we are going to do whatever we want. What the United States is saying is if you continue to do things that we strongly counsel you not to do then we're going to take further steps."

"There's also an international political issue for the United States - we're really isolated from the rest of the world. Biden wants to get us back in line with the international community. There's also a domestic political issue for Biden here he's really taking a beating - particularly from the Arab-American community - in a way that could really have a decisive impact on the American election."

(Pic: Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in Deir Al Balah town, southern Gaza Strip, 25 March 2024; Credit: EPA)

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