Behind the successive blockade of the Security CouncilThe 193-member United Nations General Assembly will meet in a special emergency session this Thursday and is expected to vote on a resolution by Arab states calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

At the time of his intervention, Iran’s representative said he is willing to play a role in the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

The proposal was made by Iranian Foreign Minister Hosein Amir Abdolahian before a session of the UN General Assembly, at the request of the group of Arab countries to stop the war in Gaza, and which has attracted unusual attention.

Abdolahian said Hamas has shown its willingness to release “non-military hostages” but that this would be a trade for the 6,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are being held without due process, as human rights groups have repeatedly denounced.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdolahian offered to mediate the conflict, even though Iran is one of the few countries that has not condemned the October 7 Hamas attack, and Abdolahian left again. Of course, why don’t you plan to? Photo: EFE

The minister added that this mediation operation would be carried out jointly with Turkey and Qatar (the last country to mediate the release of the first Israeli hostages), without giving further details.

It does not seem easy for Israel – Iran’s sworn enemy – to officially accept its mediation, but the Iranian offer is important because it is in Iran where Hamas has its political leadership in exile and is probably the strongest ally Hamas has in the world .

Non-binding resolution

More than a hundred countries have asked to speak in this session that seeks a solution, which will in no way be binding, on the war in Gaza, given the repeated inability of the Security Council, which has already failed in four attempts.

The number of countries that have asked to speak, and have done so in recent days in the Security Council, gives an idea of ​​the interest that the issue is generating in the United Nations building, and this despite the fact that the international The organization sees itself unable to send a clear and consensual signal about the conflict.

Jordan, representing the group of Arab nations – which also show unusual unity – has presented to the Assembly a resolution that, unlike that of the Council, is not binding, but symbolic, but will serve to show how many countries join Israel (and its ally the US) and how many of them are demanding an immediate ceasefire.

The resolution not only calls for an unconditional cessation of hostilities, but also condemns Israeli measures that have led to massive population movements in Gaza and attacks on people and civilian infrastructure.

In the last ten days, there have been four attempted resolutions in the Council that have been opposed by the United States or Russia – aligned with China and Arab countries in this crisis – on an issue that goes beyond semantics.: Call to a ceasefire or simply “humanitarian pauses” to send aid to the people of Gaza, as the US suggests.

Israel believes the UN is accommodating Hamas

Israel attacked the UN again this Thursday, calling it a “broken and morally corrupt organization,” in the words of that country’s ambassador, Gilad Erdan, before the General Assembly on the resolution presented by Arab countries calling for stop the war. Gaza.

Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Gilad Erdan shows a video of an Israeli man allegedly killed by Hamas before the General Assembly. The target of Erdan’s attacks was the Arab resolution – which calls for a ceasefire, an end to forced displacement and the protection of civilians in Gaza – which he described as “absurd” and a “disgrace to your intelligence he told the deputies. . Photo: AFP

The UN is “bleeding from relevance, legitimacy and justification,” said Erdan, who last Tuesday even called for the resignation of its secretary general, AntĂłnio Guterres, accusing him of justifying Hamas’ crimes and sparking a crisis between the country to open. Nations agencies.

According to Erdan, “the UN has been complacent with the terror that Hamas has fomented in Gaza (and that is why) Hamas is counting on you,” he told delegates: “Be assured that despite the terror and the massacres, the UN will action will come. your salvation.” (of Hamas) and will prevent Israel from defending itself,” he said.

Erdan used most of his speech to describe the Hamas attacks on October 7 – using photos and videos – and warned that a ceasefire would only stop a group he sometimes described as jihadist and sometimes as jihadist. can rearm.

The Israeli army conducted a short night attack with tanks in northern Gaza, in preparation for the “next phase of the battle” against the Islamist group Hamasa day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed that his forces will carry out a “ground intervention” in the Palestinian enclave.

Selective outrage

Speaking before Erdan was Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al Malki, whose voice cracked twice describe the attacks that the residents of the Gaza Strip are victims of.

Al Malki recalled that 70% of the 7,000 deaths in Gaza are women and children, and wondered how Israel can say it is minimizing harm to civilians: “If killing 7,000 minimizes damage, maximizing it must equal ​​of killing 700,000.”

“Israel wants to free its hostages, and two million people have been held hostage for that,” he said, adding that 1,600 Palestinians remain in the rubble, not knowing whether they are alive or dead. (JO)