Countries in the Arab region have joined forces with those in the Global South to confront Israel and its supporters in the Western world, urging them to put a stop to the airstrikes in Gaza. This call comes as the UN general assembly holds an emergency debate, a rare occurrence lasting two days.
On Thursday, the Iranian foreign minister issued a strong warning stating that if the alleged genocide does not cease, the US will not be exempt from its consequences.
The discussion was at times disconcerting for the United States, as representatives from various countries questioned the country’s unwavering backing of Israel following the 1,400 deaths caused by a Hamas attack. According to Palestinian officials, over 7,000 individuals have been killed in Gaza since then, as Israel has carried out airstrikes on the region.
The subject of the discussion was determined by its heading – Violations committed by Israel in East Jerusalem and the rest of Palestinian territory under occupation. It is likely that a significant number of countries in the assembly will denounce Israel if a non-binding vote is held on Friday.
The smaller United Nations Security Council, consisting of 15 members with five permanent members possessing veto power, has been unable to come to a consensus on the conditions for a temporary ceasefire.
Russia and the US vetoed each other’s resolutions on Wednesday. Last week, the US also vetoed a resolution proposed by Brazil that called for the creation of humanitarian corridors in Gaza. The US cited the resolution’s failure to acknowledge Israel’s right to self-defense as the reason for their veto.
A resolution approved by the security council holds more significance than one approved by the larger general assembly consisting of 193 countries.
Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, issued a strong warning stating that an escalation of the conflict in the region is not welcome. He also warned American leaders responsible for the ongoing genocide in Palestine that they will not be exempt from consequences if the violence in Gaza persists. The minister also expressed confidence in ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, stated that over 80 Palestinian families have suffered the loss of 10 or more family members, with some families losing up to 45 members in the ongoing conflict. He questioned how world leaders can justify the deaths of 1,000 Israelis, yet remain indifferent to the daily death toll of 1,000 Palestinians.
Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Hussein Abdullah Al-Safadi, strongly criticized the rhetoric used by the Israeli government, accusing them of advocating for the eradication of Palestinians and dehumanizing them as unworthy animals.
The UN’s Israeli ambassador, Gilad Erdan, presented a short video to the general assembly. He claimed that the footage depicted a member of Hamas attempting to behead a man with a gardening tool during the October 7th attack.
Erdan, who has demanded the UN secretary general António Guterres to step down, stated: “This is not a conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel is in a battle against the terrorist organization Hamas, which seeks to commit genocide. Hamas does not prioritize the well-being of the Palestinian people. Their sole objective is to destroy Israel.”
On Thursday, the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, and Morocco issued a joint statement denouncing the attacks on innocent civilians and the disregard for international law in Gaza.
According to their declaration, the act of self-defense does not excuse violating the law and disregarding the rights of Palestinians. The Arab ministers also denounced the forced relocation and collective punishment of Gazan Palestinians.
They expressed disapproval of Israel’s ongoing control of Palestinian territories and urged for increased efforts towards achieving a two-state resolution to the enduring conflict. This concept has been the cornerstone of a stagnant peace negotiation process.
The lack of a resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has resulted in recurring instances of aggression and hardship for the Palestinian and Israeli communities and the surrounding regions.
European governments showed their support for Israel. Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, stated that during a meeting in Brussels on Friday, EU leaders will clearly express their support for Israel’s actions in self-defense.
The Qatari government stated that their efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas were being hindered by the ongoing Israeli attacks. The country’s foreign affairs minister, Mohammed Al Khulaifi, acknowledged the challenges of negotiating in such circumstances, but expressed optimism and determination to continue their efforts.
The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, recently made a statement denouncing the Israeli attack on Gaza as a massacre. He expressed frustration towards the lack of action from the international community, calling it a shame for humanity.
Erdogan stated that achieving peace would require the establishment of a separate, self-governing, and geographically connected Palestinian state, based on the borders set in 1967. The capital of this state should be East Jerusalem.
Source: theguardian.com
