UN Security Council Meets on Palestine
The UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting January 23 heard from more than 60 speakers, including many government ministers, who discussed the need for a humanitarian ceasefire, the urgency with which aid delivery needed to be scaled up, the importance of pursuing a two-state solution and the imperative to avoid further regional escalation.
It began with a briefing by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, who demanded an immediate end to the "collective punishment of the Palestinian people" which he attributed as a response to what he called "horrific terror attacks launched by Hamas" in which "more than 1,200 Israelis and others were killed and over 250 taken hostage." Guterres chose to focus on the latter: "Nothing can justify such barbaric attacks" he stressed, demanding immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
In opening this way, the Secretary General completely ignored the failure of the UN to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people since the UN Partition Resolution of November 29, 1947 that led to the creation of Israel and its failure to enforce numerous UN resolutions and reports by UN bodies detailing violations of international law and of the rights of the Palestinian people with impunity. That reality however was not overlooked by many who spoke, except for the U.S. and other backers and apologists of the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Cuba's First Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Peñalver, addressing the UNSC on January 24 said, "It is time to halt Israel's genocide over the Palestinian people. We reiterate our unequivocal demand for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the conflict." Cuba demanded that the U.S. stop obstructing the Security Council from fulfilling its mandate to put an end to the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Cuba supported the call to admit Palestine as a permanent member of the UN, as well as the initiative to urgently call for a peace conference under the auspices of the United Nations, focused on preserving the inalienable rights of Palestine. Peñalver reiterated Cuba's proposal to urgently send an international protection mission to Gaza, authorized by the UN General Assembly, to guarantee safety and protection for civilians and facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid. He demanded the total and unconditional withdrawal of Israel from the Syrian Golan Heights and all occupied Arab territories, the cessation of aggression against Syria and strongly condemned the military attacks by U.S. and allies on Yemen, in violation of international law.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, said, "The Security Council has been unable to formulate an appropriate response to this crucial challenge. As you know, the reason for this is the stance of the United States, which is blocking all attempts and initiatives to halt the bloodshed in the occupied territories. We are shocked by the deviousness of U.S. diplomats, who veto ceasefire resolutions and then demand a reduction in the intensity of fighting in Gaza. This obviously gives them carte blanche to continue with the collective punishment of the Palestinians. [...] Our Council's failure to take comprehensive measures has resulted in a situation where the current escalation of the conflict in Palestine has metastasized throughout the region. Once again, this is happening with the pernicious involvement of the United States and its allies, whose military presence in the Middle East, as in other parts of the Eurasian continent, is creating new and unacceptable risks to international security. We strongly condemn the completely unjustified aggression against Yemen, which was launched without the UN Security Council's sanction and with Washington and London playing a leading role. The actions carried out by the Anglo-Saxons pose a direct threat to international peace and undermine the world order based on the supremacy of universal international law and the central role of the United Nations, not on the 'rules' of their own making. We also condemn the Israeli bombing attacks on Syria, including strikes deliberately targeting organizations that are legally present in the country at the invitation of its legitimate government. Political assassinations must be stopped. An explosive situation exists on the border between Lebanon and Israel."
Lavrov said Russia "strongly condemned the attacks on civilians in Israel on October 7, 2023" while rejecting calls "from Western representatives, for us to shift our focus away from the present time and onto the day after the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as if escalation in Gaza has stopped and the situation there no longer calls for the Security Council's attention." When we do get to "the day after" discussion, he said, first and foremost Palestine's future is the making of the Palestinians. "They themselves must decide what their future will be like, who will rule them and how they will do it. I believe our Western colleagues describe this as democracy. The enforcement of external decisions and social engineering' solutions, which our Western colleagues like so much, are absolutely unacceptable in this case." "The second key factor," Lavrov said, "is the inviolability of the two-State formula for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement and the imperative of its early implementation. [...] The goal of any international mediation is not to interfere in these processes, not to turn the region into a platform for geopolitical rivalry, but to create the most favourable external conditions for restoring trust between the parties involved. [...] At the next stage, an international conference on the Middle East settlement will need to be convened. The goal is to proclaim a Palestinian state, and work out measures to ensure the reliable security of Israel and the normalization of its relations with all Arab and Muslim countries in general. [...] Not only is it important for the UN Security Council to reaffirm that there is no alternative to the existing international legal framework for this most pressing issue, but it is also necessary for it to outline specific ways and deadlines for taking action. These are not just obligations arising from UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, the Madrid Principles and other decisions. This is the moral imperative of the international community, and we call for it to be fulfilled."
Ahmed Attaf, Minister for Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad of Algeria, warned that Israel is trying to build a greater presence on the ruins of the Palestinian national project and called for the convening of an international peace conference to achieve a definitive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict based on a two-state formula.
Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and in the region to ensure the protection of civilians. Only a ceasefire will enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance at the scale required as well as provide for creating the conditions for the safe return of displaced people. Deploring the statements by Israeli officials proposing the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, she expressed deep concern about the living conditions of the internally displaced Palestinians in Gaza, adding that "people are forced to flee again and again, being pushed to safe zones which are later bombed."
Zhang Jun, the representative of China, said the tragedy in Gaza violates the conscience of humankind and the bottom line of international law. "There is no justification for this and it absolutely should not continue," he stressed, highlighting the consensus in the international community on an immediate ceasefire. Strong will, vigorous initiatives and effective actions from the United Nations, including the Security Council, are needed to halt the flames of war and restore peace. He further emphasized that an immediate ceasefire should be the highest priority and called on Israel to immediately reverse its course and cease indiscriminate military attacks on Gaza. The two-state solution is the only viable path for achieving peace between Palestine and Israel, he said, expressing grave concern over recent Israeli leadership statements rejecting this solution. Palestinian statehood must be an irreversible process, he said, expressing support for the full membership of Palestine in the United Nations.
Ayman H. Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, said, "Israel is making a mockery of international law," while the Security Council has yet to demand a ceasefire. Further, the organ has yet to enforce its own resolution demanding that food get to the starved, medicine to the ill and wounded, and anaesthesia to children undergoing surgery to treat injuries caused by indiscriminate Israeli shelling of homes, schools, hospitals and shelters. He underscored: "Stop this massacre."
Hakan Fidan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, said "it is a shame that the international community is still unable to stop the bloodshed in Gaza and the West Bank." He stressed, "The argument that the current war is about providing security for Israel is far from being convincing," adding that the situation in Gaza and the West Bank clearly demonstrates who needs security and the right to self-defence most. He welcomed the application before the International Court of Justice concerning Israel's violations of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. "It is a timely attempt to protect the Palestinian people against further harm."
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran, said that the council's inability to address the crimes of the Israeli regime, and to hold it accountable, is unacceptable. He also pointed out that the U.S. is obstructing the council from preventing the ongoing genocide in Gaza and establishing a ceasefire. He urged the council to adopt a decisive resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza. Underscoring the need to lift the blockade of Gaza and facilitate the return of Gazans to their homes, he also urged accountability for the war crimes committed by Israel.
Abdallah Bou Habib, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon, underscored that 75 years after the establishment of Israel on Palestinian land, displacing half its population to neighbouring countries, temporary solutions are still being sought when conflict resurfaces, as was most recently the case on October 7. Only a solution to the Palestinian question will open the door to security, he said, calling on the international community to prevail on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian land, in line with relevant resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002. Today, Israel threatens to continue its "reckless war" without a vision for sustainable peace, turning Gaza into ashes to eliminate Hamas, he said, deploring the carte blanche given to Israel for the killing of Palestinian civilians and the blindness of the West to it.
Retno Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, noting that the council is mandated to maintain international peace, not to tolerate wars and genocide, urged the organ to stop the horrors faced by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Warning of the threat of a full-blown war in the Middle East, she demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Palestine must be granted full membership in the United Nations, she underscored, noting that this will lay the groundwork for fair and balanced work on the two-state solution. The flow of arms to Israel must stop, while it must also be held accountable for its actions, she said, adding that "no nation is above the law."
Mohamad Hasan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, said that Gaza is on the brink of a human-made famine. Starvation is a method of warfare and a war crime. Israel has made sure that no one is safe, not even children. He demanded an immediate ceasefire and accountability for Israel's clear violations of international law. There should be no reduction in Palestinian territory. Any attempt to grab their land violates international law and further undermines the prospect of peaceful coexistence, he said, noting that the State of Israel was born from the horrors of the Second World War, and yet, for the past 75 years, it has been inflicting the same deliberate destruction on the Palestinian people. Now it is pursuing its premeditated end. This illegal and immoral pogrom of total annihilation should bring UNSC members to a single decision to recognize what Israel has been doing as genocide. It is time to accept the State of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.
Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, observed that tensions in the Middle East are increasing as the Israeli war machine continues its attacks on hospitals, homes and places of worship in the Gaza Strip. Noting that 30,000 Palestinians have perished because of the ongoing military escalation, he asked: "How can this tragedy continue with no measure to halt the carnage and collective punishment of defenceless civilians?" The situation's repercussions on regional security must be contained, as must operations in the Red Sea, he said. Underscoring the need for a lasting solution to tackle the root causes of the crisis, he called on the council to act to ensure a ceasefire and restore peace. He recalled the General Assembly resolution calling for a ceasefire adding that the Council must oblige Israel to respect international law and end the suffering, he said, underscoring the need for a credible path towards an independent Palestinian State, allowing security and stability for all.
Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, said the main reason for the conflict is the existence of an occupation that has no prospects of ending. For sustainable peace and security to be realized, the issue must be resolved under the agreed references and internationally legitimate resolutions, especially the relevant Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002. He welcomed the step taken by South Africa in submitting a case before the International Court of Justice against Israel for committing genocide against the Palestinian people. The international community must reject any attempts to displace the Palestinian people and exacerbate the issue of refugees whose rights must be fulfilled. "The passage of time and waves of forced displacement cannot deprive the brotherly Palestinian people of the right to return to their homeland," he said.
The representative of the United Arab Emirates called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, adding that it is time for the minority view to cease obstructing its implementation.
The Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States noted that, at the Security Council meeting requested by Algeria on behalf of the League of Arab States on January 12, council members were unanimous in their rejection of Israel's declared intention to forcibly transfer internally displaced persons to countries in the region. Nevertheless, the council has not taken any practical measures to stop these plans. Looking forward to the council adopting – as soon as possible – a clear resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire and includes specific measures to stop the forcible transfer of Palestinians, he also urged the organ to confront any Israeli attempts to destroy a two-state solution.
The representative of Bahrain, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, strongly rejected Israel's policy of collective punishment imposed on the people in Gaza, rejecting any attempt for forced displacement of Palestinians from their land. He also condemned Israel's illegal practices in the West Bank, which only exacerbate tensions in the region, and its repeated aggression on Syrian and Lebanese territories. He stressed the urgent need to ensure the independence of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and noted that Palestine should be given full membership at the UN. He underscored that peace in the Middle East requires the withdrawal by Israel from all occupied Arab territories, including the occupied Syrian Golan.
The representative of Mexico called on member states to redouble efforts to restrict veto use in situations of mass atrocities. She urged states that have not yet done so to join the France-Mexico initiative on the voluntary restriction of such power. It has already garnered the support of 106 States. Further, she expressed her support for the organization of an international conference for comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
The representative of South Africa said, "All of us must insist on a comprehensive ceasefire," noting that Israel's collective punishment of Palestinians has persisted for decades without effective action to safeguard Palestinian lives. International law must be uniformly applied for it to be credible, he observed, highlighting South Africa's presentation of a case before the International Court of Justice on January 11 to pursue justice for the people of Palestine. The request seeks provisional measures, including an order for Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza, he noted.
The representative of Pakistan said that the past three months marked the most brutal slaughter of civilians in the 21st century, adding that such indiscriminate killing of innocents and the suffering imposed on the population amounted to genocide, as South Africa's case has asserted at the International Court of Justice. Despite two General Assembly resolutions and near-unanimous votes of the Security Council, the international community has failed to stop the ongoing genocide. Unless the war machine is stopped, the conflict threatens to engulf many nations in the region, he warned. Israel's extremist leaders are continuing their brutal war and rejecting a Palestinian State, consigning the Middle East to perpetual conflict, he said, calling on the council to consider measures to reverse a "wanton rejection of peace" and to adopt a resolution bringing about a cessation of hostilities. If Israel's leadership refuses peace, the council and the General Assembly must take steps to hold them accountable, he said, noting precedents to persuade member states to comply with decisions of the council and General Assembly.
The representative of Libya, noting Israel's criticism of the United Nations, wondered why that country even participates in sessions like today's, and why it does not withdraw from the organization. The General Assembly recently adopted a resolution with an overwhelming majority to reach a ceasefire. The council has also adopted a resolution on coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, the results are nil. "Where's your conscience?" he asked, noting that history registers all these failures. Those who remained silent before these massacres also remained silent before the deliberate killing of women and children. "This is a disgrace for humanity," he said.
The representative of Egypt, aligning himself with the Arab Group, said that the war in Gaza has resulted in atrocities not witnessed by humankind for centuries. It has spared nobody – not even the dead, whose tombs were defaced and bodies exhumed. Calling for an immediate end to the war, which risks spilling over, he added that the situation in the Red Sea cannot be addressed separately from the war in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He therefore reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire and for the implementation of resolution 2720 (2023) that calls for increased aid to Gaza. Those who believed that occupation was viable and that security concerns could be addressed through military means alone were misled, he said, underscoring the need for the "sole solution" to be revisited: the establishment of a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital. He added that there is international consensus around this solution, and only one dissenting voice – Israel's.
The representative of Viet Nam stated that the staggering toll of the conflict in Gaza, which has killed 25,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, underscored the need for an immediate ceasefire. Voicing alarm over substantial damage to civilian infrastructure, the displacement of the majority of the population and acute shortages of basic necessities, he condemned all indiscriminate attacks against civilians and essential infrastructure. Against this backdrop, he said the council's response has been insufficient, adding that the resolutions it had adopted had not stemmed the tide of destruction and suffering. He urged the council to urgently address the crisis by protecting civilians and ensuring the provision of humanitarian assistance. He underscored the need to maintain regional stability and reiterated his country's support for a two-state solution, as a cornerstone of sustainable peace in the Middle East.
Iran's President Ebrahim Raeisi, speaking in Türkiye on January 24 called for the reform of the United Nations and other global bodies, adding that international organizations have failed the test of Gaza and showed they're no longer effective. "It is a great tragedy that the U.S. officially backs the Zionist regime. In fact, it is the United States that commits these crimes, and it is more unfortunate that the unions, international organizations, and the United Nations have lost their effectiveness and are unable to prevent the crimes that have become clear to everyone." He said the Israeli occupation must end and Israelis must compensate for 75 years of crimes against Palestinians.
This article was published in
Volume 54 Number 7 - January 26, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS54073.HTM
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