A day after France led other nations in recognising Palestinian statehood, the U.N. Security Council once again aired a deep divide between the veto-wielding United States and most of the rest of the world over how to end the war in the Gaza Strip and resolve the Mideast conflict.
At a special session to discuss the crisis, one representative after another expressed horror at Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack and Israel’s ongoing military offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed vast areas and displaced around 90% of the population, many of them starving. Most nations called for an immediate ceasefire and an influx of humanitarian aid.
“Gaza has become a graveyard for humanity as well as for the global conscience,” said Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar. “The time for words has passed. The time for action is now,” he added.
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But no such action is expected from the world body, where the United States has shielded Israel from numerous calls for a ceasefire. Last week, it voted against the other 14 members of the Security Council on a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
