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OPINION MARCH 22, 2024 | The Indian Eye 12

United Nations’ Approach to the

Gaza War: Issues and Challenges

The situation in Gaza remains grim as the conflict between Hamas and Israel is

active. The ongoing tussle between the members of the UNSC had only resulted in

demonstrating the ineffectiveness of the Security Council

DR. ARSHAD

he United Nations (UN) has
faced challenges as a global
Tgovernance body to maintain
peace and security in recent years.
The war in Ukraine and the recent
war in Gaza have challenged its con-
flict resolution capacity owing to the
geopolitical interests of the member
countries. To end the ongoing war
between Hamas and Israel, Brazil,
Malta, and the UAE proposed reso-
lutions at the United Nations Securi-
ty Council (UNSC), while the Brazil
resolution was vetoed by the US, the
Malta and the UAE resolutions were
successfully passed. The Permanent 5
(P-5) members of the UNSC did not
vote unanimously in favor of the res-
olutions.
Countries like the US, the UK,
and Russia have either abstained or
vetoed the resolutions due to their
conflicting interests. The US and the
UK wanted the resolutions to include
Israel’s right to self-defense and con-
demnation of Hamas’ “terrorist”
attacks. In contrast, countries such
as Russia, China, and even France Countries like the US, the UK, and Russia have either abstained or vetoed the resolutions due to their conflicting interests (File photo)
sought a permanent ceasefire, speedy
initiation of humanitarian supplies, achieved was outside of the UN, fol- tween Hamas and Israel. toed the Brazil-led resolution at the
and establishment of peace and secu- lowing the Egypt, Qatar, and the US- Brazil Proposed Resolution: On UNSC. The resolution called for an
rity for the Palestinians. Notably, the led mediation between Hamas and October 18, 2023, a Brazil-led draft “immediate, durable, and sustainable
Gaza War has exposed the geopolit- Israel through a series of meetings in resolution that aimed for the “hu- humanitarian truce” owing to the un-
ical rivalry and the vested interests Qatar, which was also short-lived. In manitarian pause” was voted in favor folding of humanitarian catastrophe
of the member states that are played this context, the paper aims to discuss by 12 members of the UNSC, while following Israel’s counter-offensive.
out in the UN. At the United Nations the recent UN resolutions and iden- the US vetoed it, and Russia and the The countries also supported the
General Assembly (UNGA), the res- tify the challenges the UN faced in its UK abstained. The resolution men- uninterrupted aid access to the Gaza
olutions were adopted with majority efforts to resolve the Gaza War. tioned ‘humanitarian pause’ instead Strip. The session called for the re-
votes for an immediate humanitarian of ‘humanitarian ceasefire’. The US scinding of the order by Israel, the
truce. Even though the UNGA’s res- MAJOR RESOLUTIONS AT THE vetoed it because the resolution did “occupying power,” for Palestinians,
olution was only a recommendation UN DEALING WITH THE GAZA not mention Israel’s right of self-de- UN staff, and humanitarian and
without any legal binding, it showed WAR fense, which is reflected in Article 51 medical workers to evacuate all areas
that the international community The members of the UN pro- of the UN Charter. Therefore, the of the northern Gaza and relocate to
was keen to implement a permanent posed the following resolutions that UNSC failed to adopt the resolution. southern Gaza. The resolution was
ceasefire to end the humanitarian aimed to focus on several issues, such Jordan Proposed Resolution at voted in favor by 120 votes, while 45
crisis, and that the UNGA could as “humanitarian pause,” “perma- UNGA’s 10th Emergency Session: members abstained and 14, including
succeed where the UNSC failed. nent ceasefire,” and “suspension of Jordan proposed the resolution on the US and Israel, voted against it.
The ‘humanitarian pause’ that was hostilities” to resolve the conflict be- October 26, 2023, after the US ve- Continued on next page... >>

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