In the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly, 53 countries have called for immediate action to halt the sale and transfer of weapons to Israel. They conveyed this message in a letter sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday. These countries accused Israel of consistently violating international laws across Palestinian territories, including Gaza, as well as in Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.
Seventy-nine years have passed since the establishment of the United Nations, yet one of its major failures remains the Palestinian issue. Experts on global affairs argue that the unwavering support for Israel from world powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France is a key reason for the lack of progress in establishing a Palestinian state. This support has allowed Israel to continue its violent actions against Palestinians.
Experts also point out that the mindset of oppressed and marginalized nations is changing, and regional alliances are becoming more active to counter the dominance of powerful countries. If the unjust use of veto power against oppressed nations continues, the United Nations will lose its relevance. Countries like Pakistan, Italy, and Brazil are working together to end the unfair use of veto power, as the unipolar world is once again shifting. Israel has faced the most protests in Western countries, with London leading, followed by Washington. Among the protestors were Muslims, Christians, and Jews, demonstrating a united voice against injustice. The innocent children killed have deeply shaken the global conscience, and Israel’s actions are being revealed as those of a child-killer.
When this conflict erupted last October, the United States predictably threw its full support behind Israel. The consensus in American politics has been to support Israel, with President Joe Biden even stating, “I am a Zionist.” Meanwhile, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations representative on Palestine, highlighted the orchestrated starvation and devastation occurring in Gaza, labeling it not as warfare but as “genocide.”
Philip Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), reported that Israel has reduced the number of aid trucks allowed into Gaza to just 30 per day. Since the onset of the conflict on October 7, 2023, Israel has closed crossing points into Gaza, prohibiting the entry of basic goods and supplies. With American support, Israel has imposed a genocidal war on Gaza since October 7, 2023.
According to recent media reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hopeful about Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House. Trump, once again elected as U.S. President, expressed that he would have prevented the October 7 attack if he were in office and that he would press Israel to end the conflict. A Republican president, like Trump, could offer Netanyahu more freedom to pursue military action in Gaza and Lebanon.
The U.S. elections have been crucial for Netanyahu, who has been hoping for Trump’s victory. With Trump’s support, Netanyahu believes he would have greater freedom of movement to act as he pleases, as his past experience with Republicans has been favorable, in contrast to the stricter stance of Democrats. During his presidency, Trump took actions that diverged significantly from longstanding U.S. policies on Israel-Palestine issues, benefiting Netanyahu domestically. Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, and facilitated normalization agreements between Israel and three Arab states. Trump also withdrew from the historic nuclear deal with Iran, re-imposing severe economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Despite President Biden’s declared “ironclad support” for Israel, his relationship with Netanyahu has remained tense, unlike Trump’s. Biden warned Netanyahu against attacking Iranian oil and nuclear sites, showing a stark contrast in their approaches.
The Israeli think tank Mitvim reported in a public opinion poll in September that 68% of Israelis view Trump as the best candidate to serve Israel’s interests. Only 14% chose Vice President Kamala Harris, despite her repeated support for Israel’s right to defend itself. Palestinians believe the U.S. elections will have no positive impact on their reality, given the U.S.’s consistent support and backing of Israel.
The conflict in Gaza has also significantly impacted global trade. Suez Canal traffic has drastically decreased, with ships now avoiding the route and opting for the longer, costlier journey around South Africa due to fears of Houthi missiles. The Iran-Israel proxy wars continue in various Middle Eastern countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, where Iranian-supported groups actively engage in anti-Israel operations. Groups like Hezbollah and Hamas receive Iranian support, making them substantial threats to Israel. Relations between Israel and Iran affect not only the Middle East but also global politics. The U.S. and European nations oppose Iran’s nuclear program and impose sanctions, whereas Russia and China support Iran.
This conflict between Israel and Iran has thus become a global issue. Given the significant ideological and strategic differences, a resolution seems unlikely, though international diplomatic efforts could bring some progress towards peace in the Middle East. However, this is challenging, as the core issue stems from deep-seated religious divides that may not be easily resolved.
The UN Charter emphasizes that the organization aims to protect future generations from war, ensure human rights and respect for individual dignity, and maintain equal rights for men, women, and both large and small nations. Experts say that the UN’s most significant legal provision is the veto power, intended to help restore global peace and provide justice to oppressed nations. Yet, in recent history, this power has often been used to enable Israeli aggression in Palestine and other countries.
In wars worldwide, even in the two World Wars, no city has suffered as much devastation as Gaza. A top EU diplomat, Josep Borrell, called Gaza the “largest open graveyard in the world.” The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warns that even if Israeli operations stop immediately, Gaza will only reach its 2022 GDP level by 2092. Israel’s ambassador demanded a Security Council meeting over the killing of six hostages in Gaza, the same Security Council whose resolutions Israel routinely disregards.
If the Security Council were to respond to every instance of violence against Palestinians, thousands of meetings would be necessary. The international community must hold the aggressor accountable, support the oppressed, and seek solutions through dialogue rather than intimidation. Israel’s advance must be checked to restore peace.