In a heated session at the United Nations Security Council, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned clear violations of humanitarian law in Gaza, sparking a fierce response from Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. Guterres emphasized that no party in a conflict is exempt from international humanitarian law, even in the midst of war, stating unequivocally that there are rules that must be followed.
Guterres criticized the Islamist group Hamas for the October 7 attack on Israeli territory, which resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people, mostly civilians. However, he also highlighted the grim reality faced by the Palestinian population under what he called “56 years of stifling occupation.” He pointed out the relentless expansion of settlements, violence, economic suffocation, displacement, and destruction of homes, causing the Palestinian people’s hope for a political solution to fade away.
The Israeli Foreign Minister vehemently defended Israel’s right and duty to defend itself, displaying images of Hamas attacks on civilians and questioning Guterres’ perspective.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki criticized the Security Council’s inaction regarding the 56-year Israeli occupation and the current suffering of the Palestinian population. He urged the Council to take a clear stance to reassure the 2 billion Arabs and Muslims that international law would prevail and called for a genuine peace process based on the two-state solution.
Efforts to pass resolutions addressing the conflict failed in the Security Council. Disagreements arose over the wording of the texts, with some nations emphasizing the right to self-defense while others called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. As the crisis deepens, the UN faces a race against time as essential supplies in Gaza, including fuel, are dwindling rapidly. The situation remains dire, with thousands dead, children suffering, and infrastructure devastated.
The international community anxiously awaits the UN General Assembly meeting on Thursday, hoping for a breakthrough in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite the challenges, there is a collective call for an immediate and unrestricted humanitarian ceasefire to alleviate the epic suffering of Gaza’s population.