Barghouti: US Veto Show Complicity in Gaza Genocide
CrossFireArabia- November 21, 2024
The US administration’s use of the veto to frustrate the Security Council’s draft resolution to a Gaza ceasefire confirms it is a partner to the crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Israel said Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative Movement.
America’s lone vote against the resolution in the face of all Security Council members, including its traditional allies, confirms the political isolation of the United States with Israel Barghouti told Jordan24.
He noted that this isolation was also evident in the last vote in the United Nations General Assembly, where it voted alone with Israel along with four weightless islands against 175 countries in the world.
Barghouti denounced the insistence of the Joe Biden administration – even in its last days – on its hostile approach to the Palestinian people, international law and international humanitarian law.
Barghouti pointed out that the American positions confirm the United States’ partnership in all Israeli crimes, not only in Gaza, but also in the West Bank.
Barghouti pointed out that the US partnership with Israel is not limited to providing protection through the UN Security Council, but also through operating the largest air bridge to deliver American weapons and ammunition to the occupation, in addition to American aid and economic support for the occupation, stressing that “Israel cannot complete a week in its war on Gaza and Lebanon without American support.”
US Vetoes Gaza Ceasefire at Security Council
- CrossFireArabia
- November 20, 2024
The United States, Wednesday, vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Despite having secured 14 votes in favour, the draft resolution put forward by the 10 elected members of the Security Council (E10), failed to pass owing to the negative vote by a permanent member, the US.
The text also reiterated the Council’s demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
For a resolution to be adopted, it must secure at least nine votes in favour, and no negative votes – or vetoes – by any of the five permanent members.
Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has the primary responsibility to uphold international peace and security.
Had the draft resolution been adopted, it would have also demanded immediate access by civilians in the Gaza Strip to basic services.
It would have rejected “any effort to starve Palestinians” – the threat of famine grows in the north as the Israeli siege there continues – while also demanding the facilitation of full, rapid, safe and unhindered entry of aid at scale to and throughout the Strip and its delivery to all those in need.
The text also demanded that the parties “fully, unconditionally, and without delay” implement all the provisions of Security Council resolution 2735 (2024).
This includes the release of hostages, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the return of the remains of hostages who have been killed, the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighbourhoods in all areas of Gaza – including in the north – and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The draft further underscored the role of the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) as the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza.
It called on all parties to enable UNRWA to carry out its mandate as adopted by the General Assembly, with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
It also urged respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of UN and humanitarian facilities, while welcoming the Secretary-General’s and UNRWA’s commitment to fully implement the recommendations of an independent review of the agency led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.
Norway Asks ICJ On Israeli Ban
- CrossFireArabia
- November 20, 2024
Norway is to ask the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion after the Israeli occupation Knesset prevented UNRWA from practicing its work in Israel-occupied territories which makes the agency unable to enter aid to the Gaza Strip, according to The Guardian.
Norway’s deputy foreign minister, Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, discussed at the United Nations in New York to draft resolution about this issue for the UN General Assembly.
“The international community cannot accept that the UN, international humanitarian organisations, and states continue to face systematic obstacles when working in Palestine and delivering humanitarian assistance to Palestinians under occupation,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said.
‘UNRWA Will Operate Until The Last Day’ – Lazzarini
- CrossFireArabia
- November 14, 2024
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) pledged Wednesday to continue activities until the agency can no longer operate amid the Israeli Knesset’s recent decision to ban it from operating.
Emphasizing that the situation in the Gaza Strip has become more dire, Philippe Lazzarini told reporters at UN headquarters in New York that “we are experiencing the darkest moment for the agency in 75 years.”
Lazzarini noted that UNRWA and its staff are under continued attacks by Israeli forces, adding that “as of today, 243 staff have been killed” on UNRWA premises.
Highlighting the “intense and aggressive” disinformation campaign against the agency, Lazzarini said the adoption of Israeli Knesset’s recent bill aiming to ban the activities of UNRWA, starting in January, has further exacerbated the situation.
He stated that there is “deep anxiety” among UNRWA staff on the ground as the environment in the occupied West Bank and in Gaza is putting staff “even more at risk.”
“I’m afraid that much worse is to come if we have this pervasive environment,” Lazzarini added.
Asked about the possibility of the Knesset bill being implemented, Lazzarini affirmed that, (UNRWA) “will be operating until the day we cannot operate anymore.”
He pledged to provide and deliver services to those in need “until we are forced to stop.”
The UNRWA chief noted that Israel, as the occupying power, has the responsibility to provide the needs and services for not only those in Gaza but also in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, if the agency can no longer operate according to Anadolu.
“UNRWA is a softer target for anyone who views its presence or its activities as a threat,” he said. “The intention to undermine UNRWA is politically motivated.”
“The (political) objective is to strip the Palestinians from the refugee stature, and also to unilaterally change the parameters for a political solution,” he said, adding that the political motivation also aims to undermine Palestinians’ aspiration for self-determination and a two-state solution.
Lazzarini described attacks on UNRWA as an attack on the UN, the General Assembly and the Security Council, and said the attacks are “further weakening the rule-based order that we have inherited after World War II.”
He emphasized the importance of “political will” for the success of the agency as “there is a race against the clock.”
Asked about Israeli envoy to UN Danny Danon’s demand for Lazzarini to resign, the UNRWA chief said he would “envisage” the demand if it were to make a difference but “it is not my person, it is my function which is the primary target today.”
“It is part of this broader campaign to delegitimize the agency,” he added.
Responding to Anadolu’s question on the death toll in Gaza as well as his view about the situation if he were not a UN official, Lazzarini said: “It has been a war of all possible superlative.”
He said journalists, health care workers and UN personnel have been killed at “unprecedented” levels, noting that the scale of destruction is “certainly” higher than the numbers reported.
Lazzarini pointed to deaths caused by “sub-human” living conditions, highlighting that children are living amid garbage and sewage.
Saying that nearly every word has been used to describe the situation in Gaza, Lazzarini said, “Sometimes I’m just wordless or speechless.”
He noted that even using “massacre” may not fully capture the severity, adding, “It’s just unbelievable the suffering inflicted on these communities.”
Adding that some people in Gaza hope for death, Lazzarini said, “We heard at the beginning of the war, the expression ‘human animal.’ That’s how people start to feel. They have lost everything, and they feel that they have lost also the dignity.”
