UNITED NATIONS, March 22. /TASS/. The UN Security Council will convene on Friday to vote on the US-backed draft resolution on the Middle East, said Nicolas de Riviere, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations.

"We will have probably vote by the US draft tomorrow morning," he said. "Then there are two options: either <…> the text of the US is adopted, and then we will move to the next phase of crisis management, or the text is not adopted and then the draft of the elected members [non-permanent members of the UN Security Council] will come to the table and put to the vote, and I hope it will be adopted."

The US draft "determines the imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides" and "unequivocally supports ongoing international diplomatic efforts to secure such a ceasefire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages." It also "rejects actions that reduce the territory of Gaza," including through the establishment of official or unofficial buffer zones and opposes the forced displacement of civilians in Gaza.

Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said the document needs to contain a demand or a call for a ceasefire, instead of "determine the imperative."

An alternative draft resolution, drafted by ten non-permanent members of the council, has four provisions and calls for an immediate ceasefire during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, observed by all sides. It also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and demands that the parties honor the international law while treating all captured individuals. It also urges to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza and remove all obstacles for humanitarian deliveries.