UN rapporteur: Washington’s veto is expected, and the world must deliver aid to Gaza despite Israel’s objections
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The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri, said it was not surprising that the United States used its veto in the Security Council regarding the Gaza Strip, calling for the delivery of humanitarian aid via UN peacekeeping forces despite Israel’s objections.
The Security Council failed on Wednesday to adopt a draft resolution on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Washington used its veto despite all 14 Security Council members voting in favor of the resolution.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Fakhri stressed that international law, like Security Council resolutions, is binding, and that the UN General Assembly has the authority to implement resolutions when the Security Council fails.
The UN rapporteur referred to the International Court of Justice’s ruling that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and must end.
He noted that Israel is waging a war of starvation and violating international law, citing the existence of arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for committing war crimes.
He stressed that the statements of European countries condemning Israel in Gaza are “not enough,” emphasizing the need for actions, not words, “as people are dying by the hundreds in a horrific manner every day.”
