The United States is facing pressure in the United Nations Security Council over its unprecedented support of the Israeli regime in its war in Gaza, which has triggered a severe famine crisis in the occupied enclave.
The 10 non-permanent members initiated discussion on the draft resolution in late August after the UN officially declared famine in Gaza nearly two years after the Israeli invasion. The draft demanded lifting of the siege from the occupied enclave for smooth transportation and facilitation of aid supply to Gaza, though Russia, France and the United Kingdom were sceptical that the US might still block the resolution.
The draft is up for a vote on Thursday; according to some insiders, it calls for opening access to aid but also “demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties" as well as the immediate and unconditional release of hostages.
However, the United States has blocked such proposals several times in the past, and it is expected that its position will likely remain unchanged. It is because of the United States that the war in Gaza continues to date. Some US-based experts say that without the support, Israel won't be able to fight another day.
Some EU diplomats have voiced their frustration over the US "Not even trying just makes it too easy for them, in that they don't have to justify (it) and confront 14 members of the council and the world public."
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While the United States will continue its support for Israel, a former South African Judge, Navi Pillay, who headed the international tribunal for the 1994 Rwanda genocide and also served as UN human rights chief, acknowledged that justice "is a slow process".
However, she expressed hope and quoted the great Nelson Mandela, saying, “It always seems impossible until it's done,” while she referred to international bodies persecuting the Israeli war criminals in the future. She optimistically said, "I consider it not impossible that there will be arrests and trials" in the future.
Her independent international commission of inquiry on Tuesday dropped a bombshell report concluding "genocide is occurring in Gaza," something Israel vehemently denies. The investigators also concluded that Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant have "incited the commission of genocide".
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