The UN Security Council will today vote on a resolution declaring “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in Gaza. The US-sponsored bill aims to protect civilians and enable the delivery of humanitarian aid to more than two million Palestinian people. A previous draft of the bill shared earlier this month emphasised a hostage deal in supporting international efforts for a ceasefire. But the new document does not link an immediate pause with the release of hostages captured on the 7 October attack. “Toward that end”, however, it would unequivocally support diplomatic efforts “to secure such a c…