Gaza war: Why did the United Nations not take any step?
The ongoing conflict in Gaza caused many deaths and lots of injuries. Due to the current situation in Gaza, the question arises how the United Nations work together to bring peace across the world. There are 3 key bodies of the United Nations that play a crucial role in solving the matter. The first one is the Security Council, the second one is the General Assembly and the third one is the International Court of Justice.
About 247 days have passed out. And now the UN Security Council called for a ceasefire on June 10, 2024. There are many failures that the UN has faced for it. Fourteen out of fifteen members supported the resolution, but Russia abstained.
This decision came even though the UN General Assembly had repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire, with strong support. The first call was made on October 18, shortly after the conflict began, but the United States vetoed it. The U.S. also blocked another resolution on December 8 that called for a humanitarian ceasefire.
In March 2024 the ceasefire resolution from the United Nations failed. This failure was due to the vetoes of China and Russia. It clearly highlights how the United nations are ineffective, especially to take instant decisions to solve international matters.
The delay in taking meaningful action, with another resolution passing only two months later, has sparked widespread frustration over the Council’s inability to effectively manage international conflicts.
As a result, many now seriously question whether the Security Council is still relevant and capable of fulfilling its purpose in today’s rapidly changing world, leading to growing calls for significant reform. The Security Council, General Assembly and International Court of Justice are the key players in this decision. All of them were established in 1945 under the United Nation Charter. At the same time, General Assembly decisions are not binding as it includes all of 193 member states. There are only Security Councils whose decisions are binding, with its 15 members. In these 15 members, there are about 5 permanent members that also have veto power.
The use of vetoes and abstentions make the current situation, especially within the Security Council, more complex. These actions are the great hurdle in important resolutions. It includes the ceasefire of the Gaza war. At the same time, the permanent member of the UN can abstain instead of vetoing. They have the right to allow the resolution to pass with enough votes, repeated vetoes, particularly by the United States, have caused a stalemate.
In May the General Assembly stood strongly in favor of Palestine’s membership. But the Security Council greatly opposed it. Also it led to calls for reform. There are many criticisms that the Security Council faces. Oman’s Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi strongly opposed the Security Council decision and said that the veto power should be removed.
Oman and other nations have called for changes to ensure that the veto is used responsibly and in line with international law, reflecting a need for a more balanced and effective UN system.
There are 15 judges in the International Court of Judges. . All of them are picked by the United Nations and serve for 9 years. The decision announced by ICJ can not be enforced directly but these announcements are important. It also depends upon the countries that have to follow these decisions. In a recent announcement the ICJ said that Israel’s occupation on Palestine territories is illegal. But this ruling is not legally binding.
Many judges disagree with the decision while Sayyid Badr strongly supports the decision.
In May 2024, the International Court of Justice warned Israel to stop the attack on Rafah and pull out. South Africa claimed that Israel is the root cause of genocide. Sayyid Badr welcomed the ICJ’s decision for Israel to stop incitement to genocide.
The ICJ’s rulings influence global opinions, but the ICC, which tries individuals for serious crimes, is also important. In May 2024, the ICC’s chief prosecutor asked for arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, but Israel, not part of the ICC, rejected this. The UN Human Rights Council also looks at these issues but doesn’t enforce laws.
In April 2024, the UN Human Rights Council condemned the alleged use of starvation in Gaza and called for an arms embargo on Israel. Although this resolution isn’t legally binding, it holds moral weight. Critics argue that the Security Council’s failures are pushing for a new, more effective organization to handle global conflicts.
