This opinion was originally published as part of the HPN initiative, created to share Humanitarian practitioners' and researcher's insights on the situation in Gaza.
The Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip has deepened scepticism towards the United Nations, underscoring its failure to support the Palestinian people. This deficiency is glaringly evident in the UN’s weak response to the crisis in the Gaza Strip. The UN’s reaction has been notably passive, drawing accusations of silent complicity in the aggression on Gaza, as asserted by the spokesperson of the Palestinian government. The UN’s response has been confined to the release of brief reports, expressions of concern, and the issuance of statements that stop short of holding the Israeli state accountable for its systematic killing of civilians, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and collective punishment of Palestinians.
After seven weeks of unprecedented aggression against the Gaza Strip, the UN’s inability to provide essential supplies, secure a ceasefire, or protect its facilities and refugees in Gaza illustrates its shortcomings. It has also failed to leverage its unparalleled institutional capacities for preventive diplomacy to sufficiently back an urgently needed humanitarian pause or even a ceasefire....