Sawera Razoom
In 2023 civilians were targeted, attacked, and killed to an unprecedented extent in the Palestine-Israel conflict.
On October 2023, Palestinian armed factions in Gaza launched thousands of missiles against Israel and broke the Gaza border fence in several spots killing and capturing Israeli personnel and civilians. The Israeli military announced a state of war alert and began attacking targets in the Gaza Strip, including residential buildings and health care institutions. Since then thousands have been slaughtered in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has killed and injured thousands of people while destroying residential buildings, hospitals, and United Nations installations. Add to this the horrific water and electricity outages, as well as the ongoing premeditated assassinations in the West Bank. The conflict is still ongoing.
“War can cause harm, but peace can bring prosperity”
The struggle between Palestine and Israel highlights the importance of various players and organizations in achieving peace, but unfortunately, most efforts were unsuccessful.
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
The OIC was created in 1969 with its headquarters in Jeddah. The OIC seeks to represent Muslims around the world to protect and safeguard their critical interests.
On December 2023 the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) firmly condemns Israeli continuous armed aggression against the Palestinian people. The OIC views the ruthless onslaught against the Palestinian people to be a clear breach of international and humanitarian law as well as a war crime. The OIC holds Israel completely responsible for the consequences of the continuance of this wicked action and it also calls for the international community to intervene promptly to force Israel to stop its continuous attacks and to facilitate the opening of humanitarian corridors.
The plight of Palestinians particularly in the Gaza Strip has sparked global concern. However, there is a growing recognition that the OIC has fallen short of giving significant aid to Muslim countries dealing with this massive catastrophe. As the world watches in horror it becomes clear that the OIC’s effect does not match the scale of the difficulties confronting the Muslim world. This realization raises important questions about the OIC.
The OIC can play a critical role in promoting peace and justice in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Practical steps such as an instant embargo on Israel by Islamic countries, including energy restriction and the expulsion of Israeli ambassadors if contacts with the Zionist administration have been formed must be taken. Furthermore, an Islamic legal team should be formed to document any Israeli war crimes in Gaza
United Nation (UN)
The United Nations has played an important role in addressing the long-standing dispute between Israel and Palestine and it is actively working to find a peaceful settlement.
In October Secretary General Guterres criticized Hamas’s attacks. He expressed concern for civilians and urged all diplomatic measures to prevent an escalation of conflict. UN Secretary-General Antonio has repeatedly stated that international humanitarian law is being violated in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas. The WHO has assisted in the delivery of medical supplies to the besieged Gaza. However, the amount of aid entering Gaza is insufficient to meet the population’s needs. The UN Secretary-General referred to the donation as a drop of aid in an ocean of need. Thousands of Gaza Palestinians have evacuated their houses to seek sanctuary in UN schools. Because of their UN association, these schools were considered safe havens for refugees. Unfortunately, schools are also no longer safe.
In mid-October, the United States vetoed a resolution calling for humanitarian pauses in Gaza but abstained on a similar resolution in November. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution similar to the one that the US vetoed calling on Israel and Palestinian armed groups to protect civilians and follow international humanitarian law. The council issued its first resolution on Israel and Palestine since 2016. However, in December the United States rejected a Security Council resolution asking for a truce between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed organizations. The General Assembly voted two resolutions calling for a cease-fire one in October and another in December.
In December 2023 South Africa filed a complaint at the International Court of Justice claiming that Israel violated its responsibilities under the 1948 Genocide Convention during its armed operations in Gaza.
Highlighted activities of the UN
The UN has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts to mediate and resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Various UN bodies, including the Security Council, have discussed and passed resolutions aimed at achieving a two-state solution and addressing key issues such as borders, refugees, and the status of Jerusalem.
The UN offers humanitarian help to Palestinian territories, primarily Gaza and the West Bank, where the population has struggled due to conflict-related violence and economic hardship.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees was founded to aid and safeguard Palestinian refugees. It conducts schools, health clinics, and other basic services for Palestinian refugees in the region.
UN agencies, notably the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, monitor and report on the situation on the ground, recording human rights breaches and offering insight to the global community.
The United Nations has long campaigned for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine issue, in which Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully. However, finding an agreement on the particular conditions of such a solution has proven difficult.
Although the UN is an independent organization with the ability to make its own decisions, it is often influenced by major superpowers such as the USA, Russia, China, and the UK. Major financial contributors and their forces operate under the United Nations in many parts of the world. The UN is biased and controlled by the US, which consistently utilizes its veto authority to back Israel on the Palestinian issue.
Conclusion
The UN and OIC’s activities in the Palestine-Israel conflict are part of larger international attempts to find a peaceful solution. The United Nations serves as a platform for diplomatic initiatives and resolutions, whereas the Organization of Islamic Cooperation promotes Palestinian rights and expresses solidarity with their cause.
