In this blog I stay intentionally away from politics and international affairs, although these are topics very close to my interests and passions. Today, I cannot refrain from celebrating another moral victory of humanity that collectively expressed their humanitarian support for civilians being hit by the current conflict in Gaza and for upholding legal and humanitarian obligations during the conflict.
Votes this time are bigger in numbers than last week at the Security Council but the proportion remains the same:
Votes in favour 153
Votes against 10 (USA Austria Israel Czechia Guatemala Liberia Micronesia Nauru Papua New Guinea Paraguay)
Abstentions 23
After the vote at the United Nations Security Council last week, we now had a vote at the General Assembly, with no member holding a veto power, hence the resolution asking for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza was passed with overwhelming majority. The resolution calls for the protection of civilians, the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages and humanitarian access. Sadly, this is not a binding resolution, as the General Assembly does not have the power to enforce this decision. Yet, this is a confirmation of how the world sees this conflict at this moment in time. Enough with indiscriminate killings!
The US administration is as isolated as ever, feeling the heavy weight of their link with Israel now almost insufferable. This former global superpower is now relegated to lead a small cohort of micro nations in support of the indefensible stance of Israel in Gaza. Biden is now saying Netanyahu should change his positions and that his government is “the most conservative in Israel’s history”. Give it another couple of weeks of atrocious military attacks and his government will become the most embarrassing in Israel’s history. Netanyahu will be dropped inevitably from US support as a damaging ballast during a presidential campaign.
As time goes by, heavier and heavier human casualties pile up in Gaza and make this situation most unpalatable and damaging for powers complicit in this massacre. As time goes by, the more challenging it becomes to disentangle responsibilities between perpetrators and accomplices. More substantive efforts will be needed to cover this up somehow. Some more unacceptable lies to cover up for war crimes? Some more sanctioning international law can be interpreted selectively and some are above the law by divine decision? More censorship? More intimidations? More restrictions to freedom of expression? Who knows? Surely, these are very troublesome times for humanity to endure. We must stand united and rooted in principles that do not change with the seasons, at our own convenience.
My sincere hope is that today can be the beginning of a new chapter in the story of this onflict between people in the Middle East and a lift towards a peaceful process of coexistence between people, after having hit the lowest point of atrocities.
Let peace and goodwill prevail! ☮️ ✌️ 🕊️
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