The United States has circulated a draft United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire coupled with the release of hostages” in Gaza, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in attendance a journey through the Middle East.

Israel’s main political and military supporter has repeatedly vetoed Previous United Nations Security Council votes on ending the nearly six-month war as recently as February raised objections to the use of the term “immediately” in a draft submitted by Algeria.

But in recent weeks it has increased pressure on Israel while insisting that Hamas militants must immediately release prisoners seized during the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

“In fact, we actually have a resolution that we’re submitting to the U.N. Security Council right now that calls for an immediate ceasefire tied to the release of hostages, and we very much hope that countries will support that,” Blinken said in Saudi Arabia. Arabia.

“I think it would be a strong message, a strong signal,” he told Saudi media outlet Al Hadath on Wednesday.

“Of course we stand with Israel and its right to defend itself… but at the same time it is essential that we focus on the civilians who are in danger and who are suffering so terribly and that we give them priority.” protect the civilian population, provide them with humanitarian assistance,” Blinken said.

A copy of the new draft resolution, seen by Al Jazeera, said: “The Security Council establishes the need for an immediate and lasting ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides, enable the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance and alleviate humanitarian suffering.” This objective clearly supports ongoing international diplomatic efforts to secure such a ceasefire in conjunction with the release of all remaining hostages.”

Al Jazeera diplomatic editor James Bays said that while the development sounded “very important”, the “precise wording” of the resolution was crucial, adding that the US’s actual demands were not clear.

“It is certainly the strongest wording yet, but is it what the rest of the Security Council wants in terms of calling for an immediate ceasefire? Or is it just a resolution in which the Security Council would say that an immediate ceasefire is something very important?” he said.

No vote is yet planned on this text.

In February, the US was the only country to vote against the bill – the third such veto – while the UK abstained.

For a UN Security Council resolution to be adopted, at least nine yes votes and no veto from any of the five permanent members are required: the United States, Britain, France, Russia or China.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said at the time that her country was vetoing the resolution because it feared it would jeopardize talks between the U.S., Egypt, Israel and Qatar that would call for a lull in the war and prisoners held in Gaza wanted to secure the release of Qatar.

Talks over a ceasefire agreement continued in Qatar this week after attempts to reach a deal before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan failed.

Qatari officials said they were “cautiously optimistic” after talks with Israel’s intelligence chief in Doha, although Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said on Tuesday that a Israeli ground operation in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip would destroy any talks.

Bays also said this is “not the only draft resolution circulating.”

“Other resolutions vetoed by the US have called for a ceasefire. This one uses the words “determines the imperative,” so it says that it is important that there is a ceasefire. It’s not really demanding now,” he added.

“My suspicion is that the US is trying to prepare this resolution while the talks are going on in Doha – the idea is that they negotiate some kind of deal in Doha for a ceasefire and the release of the prisoners and then pass this resolution in the Security Council. I think this is the right time, but we need more clarity.”

Since then, Blinken has been on his sixth trip to the Middle East Israel’s war against Gaza started. He has already met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia.

According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, he is scheduled to meet foreign ministers from Egypt, Qatar and Jordan, as well as the Emirati Minister for International Cooperation and the Secretary General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Cairo on Thursday.

Blinken is expected in Israel on Friday.