UN Security Council has voted for a ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas welcomes the resolution and the USA says Israel accepts the proposal.
Does it mean a ceasefire is near? Not necessarily, according to Middle East expert Anders Persson.
On Monday evening, Swedish time, the UN Security Council voted to adopt a resolution, written by the USA, on a ceasefire in Gaza.
Shortly after the Security Council's vote, terrorist-listed Hamas announced that the group welcomes the resolution.
The USA has previously stated that Israel has accepted the ceasefire proposal. But it is not certain that this is the case.
Israel's goal with the war is also to eliminate Hamas and to ensure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said since the Gaza war broke out eight months ago that it will not end until the country's goals with the war have been achieved.
The ceasefire proposal on the table consists of three phases.
The first phase lasts for six weeks and involves a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from "all populated areas in the Gaza Strip", and the exchange of a number of hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Phase two is dependent on the parties first agreeing on "necessary arrangements". But if so, it would mean a permanent end to hostilities, the release of all remaining living hostages, and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
In the third phase, the remains of hostages who are no longer alive will also be returned, and a comprehensive reconstruction plan will be launched.
