On Monday, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution calling for “an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and ‘the urgent need to expand the flow’ of aid into Gaza”. [1]
Notably, the United States abstained as opposed to vetoing the motion — as is its right to do so as one of the five permanent Security Council members. [2]
Riyad Mansour, the Permanent Observer for the observer State of Palestine, said of the result,
“This must be a turning point; this must lead to saving lives on the ground. This must signal the end of this assault of atrocities against our people.” [1]
In addition, Mansour condemned continued Israeli aggression against the UN, with the disastrous situation faced by UNRWA and those who desperately require life-saving aid.
“This outrageous incitement has real-life consequences for UN and humanitarian staff on the ground who are targets of attacks, who are killed, arrested and tortured.
“It is time for all these Israeli actions to trigger a serious international action.” [1]
In contrast, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, responded with fury at Washington’s choice, describing it as “harming both the war effort and the effort to release the hostages”. [3]
The apartheid state’s leader was referring to prisoners of war when using the incorrect term “hostages”.
What will happen now?
It has taken the UNSC nearly six months to come to this point; but the resolution — which passed with 14 in support and none against, and one abstention — demands an immediate ceasefire for the remainder of the blessed month of Ramadan. [1]
However, due to the repeated occurrence of countries refusing to abide by UN resolutions, that the vote is legally binding under international law means very little. [4]
A clear example of this total disregard for international law is none other than the United States, which has likely exceeded a hundred different resolutions over the decades.
Indeed, an October 2002 report by the Los Angeles Times cited University of San Francisco Professor Stephen Zunes, who found that at least 91 resolutions “are being violated”. [5]
Being that we are already in the middle of the month of Ramadan, even if the Zionist state were to comply with this ruling, it only leaves approximately two weeks before hostilities may resume.
Negative shift in language
Before the votes were cast, paragraph one of the resolution had called for a “permanent” ceasefire. However, this was ultimately changed to an “immediate” one. [1]
Russia responded furiously to this change, describing it as “unacceptable”. [1]
Indeed, the Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, noted,
“We all received instructions for a vote on the text that contained the word ‘permanent’”. [1]
Simultaneously, on the point of the US abstaining, the US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, attempted to explain that,
“Certain key edits were ignored, including our requests to add a condemnation of Hamas, and we did not agree with everything in the resolution.
“For that reason, we were unfortunately not able to vote ‘yes’. However, as I’ve said before, we fully support some of the critical objectives in this non-binding resolution.” [1]
While Thomas-Greenfield attempted to suggest that the resolution has no legal standing, as the Guardian reports, UN scholars were quick to set the record straight. [3]
US fast losing patience with Israel
The latest figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health show that at least 32,300 have been martyred. And it is, therefore, becoming increasingly difficult for the US to provide diplomatic cover to the apartheid state on the international stage. [6]
Certainly, with the US abstention on this latest resolution, it is a serious change in tone.
Israel’s strongest ally vetoed three prior draft resolutions, which no doubt supported the continued genocide against Gaza. [7]
Analysis
ANALYSIS
A step in the right direction, but nowhere near perfect
This UN resolution may have some positive sides to it, but there are a number of concerns related to it.
First of all, the vote, despite being legally binding according to UN experts, is not likely to be implemented by the Israelis.
Secondly, the duration of the ceasefire is limited only to the month of Ramadan. This means that the Israeli regime may continue with its killing of innocent Palestinians after this month is over, and it would be devastating indeed.
Third of all, this ceasefire may in fact be used to weaken the Palestinian position, because notably, the motion focused on Israeli prisoners of war as opposed to Palestinians. Do the Palestinian prisoners of war not matter to the world?
It is also for this reason that such a move, if implemented by all parties, would see the Palestinian side’s bargaining power seriously diminished, as with the return of all Israeli prisoners of war, the Palestinian side would have little to negotiate with.
The world is easily manipulated
Another point which must be mentioned is that it has taken nearly half a year and over 30,000 deaths to bring the international community to this point.
How easily manipulated the UN and the wider world is, when they take this amount of time to deliberate over something as critical as an end to bloodshed?
In addition, that the Israeli side has responded publicly by stating it is displeased with the result is irrelevant.
In fact, they often do this in order to sway public opinion in their favour, and they are successful in this approach. So it is questionable that even though the US abstained, they may have been actually offering their tacit approval to Israel.
More must be done to end this destruction
While the resolution is a positive move, and while the US and others are indicating that they are losing patience with the Zionist state, more must be done to push for a complete end to this conflict.
The Muslim Ummah, along with those who are fighting for justice and self-independence, have to use the positive elements of this resolution effectively. They need to continue exposing the evil nature of the Zionist state and its violation of all human rights and international laws.
The Ummah also needs to help the Palestinians and their legitimate resistance in order to pave the way to independence and securing their legitimate rights, just as any other nation possesses.
May Allah (subḥānahu wa ta'āla) support our Palestinian brothers and sisters in this ongoing situation.
Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147931
[2] https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/current-members
[3] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/25/un-gaza-ceasefire-vote
[4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/26/un-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-countries-vote/
[5] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-17-fg-resolution17-story.html
[6] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/gaza-death-toll-from-israeli-attacks-passes-32-300/3174241
[7] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/26/will-the-un-ceasefire-resolution-stop-israels-war-on-gaza
