Palestine-Israel is a UN masterclass in failure 

Since 2007, the densely populated Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave with a population exceeding 2.2 million, has experienced a comprehensive blockade enforced by the State of Israel and its allies. This blockade imposes a multifaceted array of restrictions that encompass control over airspace, land borders and maritime access, with a significant effect on the socio-economic and political dynamics of the occupied territory. This enduring and complex set of limitations continues to have profound implications for the people of Gaza, shaping their daily lives and access to basic resources, as well as the broader geopolitical landscape of the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Increasingly, the Gaza Strip is becoming a land where Israeli violations of international law are the norm, as the occupation state deprives the Palestinian population of food and medicine, electricity and fuel; attacks hospitals and places of worship; and uses white phosphorous bombs against the largely civilian population. In the first week of the invasion, Israel dropped 6,000 bombs on Gaza, around 4,000 tonnes of high explosive. By 25 October, that figure was reported to be 12,000 tonnes, equivalent to the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima by the US in 1945.

The “war crimes” committed in Gaza by Israel have left the world more divided than ever, especially given the complete blockade of food, water, and vital services put in place by the apartheid state. It is imperative to underscore the intricacies of this protracted conflict, which remains fluid and evolving in its dynamics.

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The UN has consistently voiced reservations and concerns regarding Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip over many years with fervent appeals to the involved parties, urging them to exercise restraint, prioritise the safety of civilians and, ultimately, seek a sustainable ceasefire agreement. While the UN has remained limited in addressing the conflict, its actions reflect the organisation’s commitment to preserving peace, promoting human rights and fostering diplomatic solutions within the context of Palestine-Israel on the ground.

Palestinians have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation: Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concerns about the situation in Gaza in unusually frank comments. Following Israel’s order for the Palestinians in the north of the Gaza Strip to move to the south, he has emphasised repeatedly that the process of relocating more than one million individuals across a densely-populated conflict zone, to an area devoid of essential provisions such as sustenance, potable water and housing, is an exceedingly hazardous endeavour. The continuous Israeli bombardment has exacerbated this predicament, and the fact that all of Gaza remains under a total blockade, rendering relocation both impossible and inhumane turns the situation into a “dangerous new low”, with no food, water or accommodation.

Guterres added that the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October did not happen “in a vacuum” as the Palestinians have been “subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation.” He reiterated his appeal for a humanitarian pause in Israel’s military offensive within the Gaza Strip.

Moreover, independent UN experts have condemned the indiscriminate attacks against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and a further tightening of the unlawful blockade, which will have a devastating impact on the whole population. The UN Human Rights Office further condemned the withholding of essential supplies such as food, water, electricity and medicines. Such action has precipitated a severe humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with people facing the risk of starvation. The intentional starvation of a whole population is a crime against humanity.

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Besides the UN, other international organisations have condemned the deplorable state of affairs in the Gaza Strip and have called out Israel for the brutal and indiscriminate use of force. The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has stated that Israel’s relentless aerial and artillery attacks on the Gaza Strip have turned it into a “hellhole” with wholesale death and destruction, extremely complex humanitarian conditions, and without any basic services to sustain life. An average of 14 Palestinians are being killed every hour.

At the time of writing, at least 6,546 Palestinians have been killed, 70 per cent of whom were children (2,704), women (1,584) and the elderly (295). More than 17,400 people have been wounded; more than 1,600 people are missing, presumed to be under the rubble of destroyed buildings; and 70 per cent of the population of the Gaza Strip have been displaced.

In response to the intensifying humanitarian emergency in Gaza, several UN agencies are positioning critical supplies, such as food and medical provisions, near the Egypt-Gaza border. However, the crucial factor for addressing this crisis is the timely reopening of the border with Israel at Erez/Beit Hanoun. Regardless of the efforts made by the UN and other international bodies, the UN Security Council (UNSG) failed to adopt a resolution put forth by the Russian Federation that would have called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

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On 19 October, Guterres visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip to facilitate the distribution of humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian territory. During his visit, he stressed the urgency of humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza and called the delivery of aid a “lifeline” and a matter of “life and death”. He also engaged with Egypt, Israel and the US for a stable flow of aid. It was agreed to allow the passage of medical supplies, tinned food, wheat flour and enough drinking water for 22,000 people for a day. Hundreds of trucks full of aid are waiting on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing.

As the situation gets worse, the UN and its agencies struggle to accommodate the population on the ground, displaced as a direct consequence of Israel’s intense aerial bombardment. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, is offering shelter to around 137,500 individuals who have been displaced by Israeli air strikes. Senior UN officials and bodies such as the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) are engaging with parties involved in the conflict and key stakeholders to de-escalate tensions.

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The UN interim force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, is monitoring the security situation along the Israel-Lebanon border and working to prevent any misunderstandings that could lead to further escalation.

Emergency services are being provided to address urgent needs. As a result of Israel’s blockade, there is a serious risk of disease spreading due to a lack of sewage and other waste water disposal and treatment facilities. To mitigate this, mobile toilets and showers are being deployed to UNRWA shelters.

The World Food Programme (WFP) and UNRWA are coordinating the distribution of bread to displaced people in shelters across the enclave. However, due to the closure of UNRWA food distribution centres, nearly half a million people have been unable to receive their expected rations.

The UN’s country-based pooled funds (CBPF) and partners have released essential medical supplies and drugs for trauma and emergencies. Additionally, health staff are working at UNRWA health centres with some clinics offering primary healthcare services during specified hours.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other UN agencies are working with partners to establish a corridor to provide critical supplies across Gaza. Efforts are being made to establish humanitarian corridors for the delivery of aid from outside the enclave. However, access for humanitarian staff and supplies has been limited due to the ongoing hostilities.

The situation in Gaza represents an acute litmus test, not only for the UN, but also for the international community. This protracted and deeply rooted conflict, characterised by episodic violence, underscores the intricate and protracted nature of the challenge at hand. There is a pressing need for concerted international action aimed at mitigating the unprecedented surge in hostilities and Israel’s apparent disregard for established tenets of international law.

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Israel’s ambassador to the UN has called for the resignation of the secretary-general for his indirect criticism of Israel, and has refused visas to UN officials. This call was fairly predictable and is unlikely to be heeded. Nevertheless, the situation remains a subject of international concern and diplomatic efforts within the UN.

It is essential to point out that Palestine-Israel is a multifaceted conundrum, necessitating a multifaceted approach involving a diverse array of stakeholders. This approach is contingent upon the amalgamation of diplomatic, humanitarian and political mechanisms underpinned by the guidance and facilitation of the UN, regional entities and influential global powers. These efforts must be designed to encourage negotiations and dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian entities, with the pivotal objective of achieving a ceasefire agreement, safeguarding civilian lives, and moving towards a political process that leads to a just and lasting solution to this most intractable of issues. As it stands, though, it is a masterclass of UN failure to live up to its Charter, to which all member states, including Israel and its allies, are bound.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.