Francesca Albanese warns UN member states to act

UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese has once again urged UN member states to wake up to the reality on the ground in the Middle East. Ahead of her eighth report on Israel’s genocidal actions against Palestinians, she warns that Israel poses a serious threat to international peace and security.

In turn, Albanese highlighted the extensive evidence she has gathered in her urgent UN reports and reinforces her call to world leaders to uphold their humanitarian duty by intervening to stop the mass killing of innocent men, women, and children.

Finally, she stresses that only those in positions of power can hold Israel accountable under international law. In turn, this could work to prevent a dark, sinister future for the global population as a result of the new world order enforced by the US and Israel that ‘might is always right’.

A world order that will hurt any and all countries who have anything of value to imperial interests.

Francesca Albanese tells UN member states to stop ignoring legal obligations

Albanese is continuing in her mission to press the UN into action, tirelessly reminding it of the vital purpose it was created to serve. The UN was formed after WWII in 1945 in order to promote cooperation amongst international leaders, enforcing a rules-based system which would foster and maintain peace and security.

If international law was applied without fear or favour, the world would see far less bloodshed and far less aggressive vitriol from hostile states. However, since its inception, the world’s most powerful states have used the international body as a way of beating down states they wish to exploit whilst shielding themselves from accountability for crimes committed by the West.

The US has consistently vetoed any effective resolutions put forward by the UN, often making its lackies toe the line and abstain from having a view. The US even saw fit to veto a UN resolution which would have allowed for unrestricted aid to enter Gaza, as we wrote back in September:

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has voted on a draft resolution put forward by its ten ‘non-permanent’ members demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of all hostages and the immediate lifting of Israel’s blockade on food and medicines – and ordering on the occupying power to ensure safe and unhindered distribution to all in need.

Adding:

The US representative vetoed the UN resolution, condemning around 1.5 million surviving civilians in Gaza to starvation as they continue to be bombed and displaced by the coloniser.

Allowing these abuses only emboldens tyrannical leaders. After all, veto powers that block widely supported resolutions undermine the rules-based system and threaten international peace and security. This only reinforces Albanese’s assertion that Israel, and those who provide diplomatic cover, are the ultimate threat to the wellbeing of the global civilian population.

Many have long called for an end to this ability to stack the deck through the veto capability, urgently calling for reform in the Security Council:

A world leader leading the way is Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez, who recently supported calls to end veto power in the UN:

Investigative journalist Peter Cronau has further reinforced Albanese’s demand for the UN to act:

Where is the UN’s backbone now?

Legal scholar Nimer Sultany has compared prior decisions made by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to the lack of action taken today:

Going further, Sultany highlighted the silence from the UN Security Council (UNSC) regarding the illegal attacks on Iran:

Al Jazeera’s Marwan Bishara underscored how Israel’s abuses seem to have no end in sight:

Better late than never

Francesca Albanese’s plea to the UN and its member states comes at a dangerously bleak moment for modern civilisation. Israel and the US are being led by self-interested, reckless, and fanatical leaders who prioritise settler colonialism above all else.

When greed and cruelty run unchecked, staying silent about crimes abroad only legitimises these dangerous actions – and leaves all states vulnerable to those who seek to take from them next.

We hope the UN and Western leaders finally heed Albanese’s call – after all, it’s better to act late than never at all.

Featured image via the Canary