Guterres: UN 'paralyzed by divisions' in region amid genocide in Gaza
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Antonio Guterres expresses disappointment over the UNSC's inability to implement a ceasefire, saying the “UNSC is paralyzed by geopolitical divisions, its credibility undermined by the inability to pass a resolution urging a Gaza ceasefire”.
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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a session at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP)
During Qatar’s Doha Forum on Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the UN Security Council is “paralyzed by geostrategic divisions,” which is impeding an effective solution to stop the bloodshed in Gaza.
The Secretary-General expressed disappointment regarding the UNSC's inability to implement a ceasefire, stating the “UNSC is paralyzed by geopolitical divisions, its credibility undermined by the inability to pass a resolution urging a Gaza ceasefire.”
He added, “Regrettably, the Security Council failed to do it…I can promise, I will not give up... We are facing a severe risk of collapse of the humanitarian system”, as he declared that the situation is “deteriorating into a catastrophe with potentially irreversible implications for Palestinians as a whole and for peace and security in the region.”
In his speech at the Forum, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called out the United States after it vetoed the vote to implement a ceasefire two days ago at the UN. “For the United States to block a United Nations Security Council resolution, one should hold the Americans responsible”, he said.
I thank the United States and President Biden for standing firmly by our side, today and showing their leadership and values. On this Hanukkah holiday, a little of the light dispelled a lot of the darkness.
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) December 8, 2023
It is shocking that while Hamas is firing rockets at Israel from…
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An end to 'hell on earth' in Gaza
The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarani, was also present to urge for an end to the “hell on earth there.”
“By any description, it is the worst situation I have ever seen,” Lazzarini said, adding: “People are coming to the UN to seek protection, but even the blue flag is not protected anymore. By any account, the situation has reached a catastrophic nature”.
Just two days ago, Lazzarini wrote a letter to UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis speaking of the “UNRWA's ability to implement its General Assembly mandate in Gaza is today severely limited, with immediate and dire consequences for the UN humanitarian response and the lives of civilians in Gaza”.
'Bigger than five'
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that the UNSC has become an "Israel protection council" in the past two months, adding that it requires reform following the US veto for a ceasefire.
"Since October 7, the security council has become an Israel protection and defense council," Erdogan said during a human rights convention in Istanbul, adding that "every day the Declaration of Human Rights is violated in Gaza."
In the 15-member board, 13 voted in favor, the UK abstained, while the US was the only country to oppose the resolution. This meeting came as four previous drafts had been rejected by the Security Council.
Erdogan pointed out that the United States was the only member to reject the ceasefire, asking, "Is this justice?...the [UNSC] needs to be reformed."
"The world is bigger than five," he added, referring to the five permanent UNSC members with veto powers.
