Russia asked the United Nations Security Council to vote on Monday on a draft resolution on the Israeli aggression on Gaza calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. This came after the Russian government condemned violence against civilians and the ongoing acts of terrorism. Russia's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said on Saturday that there has been no changes made to the text since it was given to the 15-member body on Friday. He also said he expected the vote to be scheduled for 19:00 GMT on Monday. The draft resolution is also calling for the release of hostages, access to humanitarian aid, and safe evacuation of civilians in need. The resolution refers to Israel and Palestinians without directly naming Hamas. To be implemented, a U.N. Security Council resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from any of the United States, Britain, France, China or Russia. The US, however, has as usual shielded its ally, Israel, from any Security Council action. Israel's IDF is currently preparing to launch a ground assault in the Gaza Strip, telling civilians to move south towards a closed border with Egypt. The IDF's ground assault on Gaza could annihilate a huge number of civilians in Gaza. Gaza is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, who according to Husam Zomlot, Palestine's Ambassador to the UK, have been held hostage for the past 17 years. In the past eight days, Israel killed more than 2,200 civilians from airstrikes on the strip, in yet another war crime committed on the region.
