The United Nations Security Council convened on Friday to deliberate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a session prompted by Russia, China, and Algeria. This meeting, according to Israel’s ambassador Gilad Erdan, was nothing short of “absurdity.” Erdan sharply criticized the Council, highlighting its failure to address the root causes of the ongoing conflict and the dubious reliance on data from Hamas.
Erdan's Strong Rebuke
Gilad Erdan minced no words in his address. He underscored the gravity of the situation by revealing that Israeli forces had recently discovered the bodies of five hostages in what was supposed to be a humanitarian zone in Gaza. He lambasted the Council for its inaction on pivotal issues: “How can we hold a session on Gaza without verifiable data?” Erdan demanded. He further questioned the Security Council's lack of initiative in establishing an independent verification process for the data used, instead of relying on information from “child killers and rapists.”
The UN Security Council is now convening for a special session, organized by Russia on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. In my speech, I will highlight the UN's grave failures, and condemn the council for focusing only on the well-being of Hamas murderers’ supporters in Gaza –… pic.twitter.com/5UStckFa9V
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) July 26, 2024
UNRWA Under Scrutiny
The focal point of the meeting was the plight of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), a body long mired in controversy and accused by Israel of deep ties to Hamas. Israeli lawmakers are currently pushing forward legislation to designate UNRWA as a terrorist organization, cease its operations in Jerusalem, and revoke its diplomatic privileges. This comes amid attacks on UNRWA facilities by Israeli civilians outraged by the agency’s alleged involvement with Hamas, particularly following the October 7 massacre involving some of its staff.
International Reactions
UNRWA's representatives expressed their alarm and frustration. Muhannad Hadi, U.N. deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, condemned the legislative moves against UNRWA, warning that such actions threaten the agency’s operations. Similarly, Antonia De Meo, UNRWA deputy commissioner-general, voiced concerns over visa denials for UN staff, including UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, whose visa renewal has been stalled for over a month.
@HadiMuhannad #UN Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident / Humanitarian Coordinator at @UNSCO_MEPP also spends 13 minutes crying about UNRWA at the @UN Security Council
— Leslie Kajomovitz (@lkajomovitz) July 26, 2024
Times Hamas mentioned: Zero
Times Hamas abusing its population mentioned: Zero
Times Hamas abusing UNRWA… https://t.co/7a7qpvtekz
Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, criticized the efforts to discredit UNRWA, interpreting the Knesset’s legislative actions as a direct affront to the United Nations. Concurrently, the U.S. representative at the meeting, Robert Wood, admonished Israel for its aggressive rhetoric against U.N. entities but called for a swift investigation into the allegations against UNRWA personnel.
US-Russian Diplomatic Tensions
The session also witnessed a heated exchange between U.S. and Russian diplomats. Robert Wood accused Moscow of political posturing and hypocrisy, suggesting that Russia’s alleged humanitarian concern for Gaza was a facade. “Russia continues to try to portray itself as a great humanitarian actor when it comes to Gaza, yet it does very little to address the humanitarian situation,” he said, adding, “Russia doesn’t help solve humanitarian crises. It creates them.”
Friday spats in #UN Security Council on #Gaza: #Russia castigates #US for spending "billions" to Israel in weapons [$6.5bn since Oct. 7]
— PassBlue (@pass_blue) July 26, 2024
Calls the $300mn US pier off Gaza "showcase architecture" & notes it's the same amount US withheld to UNRWA
Then: Pay up your contribution… pic.twitter.com/9ApSGpbhlk
Slovenia’s Middle Ground
Amidst the fiery exchanges, Slovenian Ambassador Boštjan Malovrh called for a balanced approach. He urged the Council to expedite ceasefire negotiations, proposing that if an agreement is not reached by the end of the Olympic Games, the Council should intervene to enforce compliance. “This is what we believe the council could do to move beyond briefings and lamenting over the humanitarian situation,” Malovrh stated.
“IS THE UN HOLDING MY SON’S BODY?”
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) May 16, 2024
In tears, Ayelet Samerano, Israeli bereaved mother whose son’s body was seized by UNRWA staffer urges the United Nations security council to help her retrieve the body of her son, held by Hamas in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/3jQ68T7D6A
Conclusion
The UN Security Council meeting highlighted the deep-seated divisions and contentious issues surrounding the Gaza conflict. With Israel's vehement criticisms, calls for accountability, and the broader geopolitical tensions between the US and Russia, the path to resolving the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains fraught with challenges and diplomatic strife.
