For over two months, the innocent children, women, and the elderly are being killed in hundreds every day in Gaza under Israel’s relentless bombardment and ground offensive. The Israeli campaign has killed more than 18,400 people in the Gaza Strip, an overwhelming majority of them women and children. Over 50,000 are injured, while many remain unaccounted for due to collapse of the rescue and healthcare structure in the territory. The toll is too high and scenes coming out of the Gaza Strip are heart-wrenching, but unfortunately the world powers have failed to reach consensus and implement a ceasefire.
A UN Security Council resolution demanding humanitarian ceasefire was vetoed by the US, while the UK neither supported nor opposed the resolution, which was put forward by the United Arab Emirates and voted for by 13 members of the UN Security Council.
After the UNSC failed to adopt the resolution to pause the conflict, the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for humanitarian ceasefire in the war-torn Palestinians territory. Tuesday’s resolution passed with 153 countries voting in favour, 23 abstaining and 10 countries voting against, including Israel and the United States. Unlike the UNSC, the UNGA resolution is non-binding. It, however, serves as an indicator of the global opinion. The Arab and Islamic world has welcomed the UNGA vote.
Qatar, led by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has been working tirelessly to renew a humanitarian pause it earlier achieved between the two parties, which led to release of hundreds of detainees from both sides and delivery of aid into the Gaza Strip. Gaza featured prominently at the just-concluded Doha Forum, where speakers from around the world stressed that it was not a mere Palestinian or Arab issue, but rather a global humanitarian and human rights issue. The forum lauded the role played by the State of Qatar and its humanitarian and peace efforts.
Qatar along with friendly countries has been striving to protect civilians of Gaza. The state has also established a humanitarian air bridge to deliver aid and evacuate Qatari residency holders from the Gaza strip. The state has so far sent 44 aircraft to deliver 1,464 tonnes of humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.
However, it is time the global powers, especially the five permanent UNSC members, intervene to stop the war on Gaza and ensure the aid reaches the Gaza population trapped and surrounded by Israeli offensive.
