What’s happening:
The United Nations is convening a panel discussion titled “2023 War on Gaza: The Responsibility to Prevent Genocide” to examine claims of genocide by Israel in its military operations in Gaza. The event is organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and coincides with a UN General Assembly debate on an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Why it matters:
This panel comes amid heavy international scrutiny over Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. With Hamas reporting over 18,000 deaths, including civilians, and the displacement of a significant portion of Gaza’s population, the UN is raising questions about the potential humanitarian and legal implications of Israel’s actions.
The bigger picture:
While the UN General Assembly is expected to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire, the United States has vetoed a similar Security Council resolution. The current debates and discussions at the UN level reflect the complexity and intensity of the conflict, particularly considering the high casualty rates and the involvement of civilian areas in military operations.
Context:
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, given the scale of the conflict and its impact on the civilian population. Despite this, the UN resolutions do not address Hamas’s actions, including the infiltration of Southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the taking of hostages. The upcoming panel is also noted to be focused solely on Israel’s military campaign, without mention of Hamas’s tactics.
What’s next:
The panel discussion aims to scrutinize the legal context of Israel’s military operations since October 7 and discuss the applicability of legal frameworks, including those that define genocide. The outcome of this panel, along with the UN’s stance on the ceasefire, could influence international perspectives and future responses to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
This story was first published on jpost.com.