It is not an exaggeration to say that the developments of the coming weeks will have important effects on the people of Gaza and on the stability of the Middle East. It will constitute a decisive and real test of the effectiveness of the international system and its institutions. These developments will also create revealing circumstances for the status, prestige, and policies of the US.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which is the main body entrusted with dealing with matters affecting international peace and security, issued Resolution No. 2728 on March 25, with a majority of 14 votes in favour. The US abstained from voting. The decision focused on three main points: an immediate ceasefire in Gaza until the end of April and a move towards a complete ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and facilitating procedures to provide and deploy food, medical, and humanitarian aid.
Nabil Fahmy, the former Egyptian Foreign Minister, says: "I consider that the issuance of the resolution is better than not being issued because it is the beginning of the Security Council restoring part of its credibility after it failed to deal with the situation since the beginning of the war."
Fahmy explains: "There are several other observations that carry within them negative meanings, concepts, and repercussions, including the Council's delay in adopting the resolution for more than seven months after the beginning of the war. This is considered clear evidence that the international system and its main bodies are no longer effective. Moreover, the five permanent members no longer appreciate or respect the special responsibility they should undertake."
The Security Council's delay in taking action, despite the fact that a large percentage of Palestinians were exposed to medical crises, famines, and forced displacement, is a clear indication that the contemporary international system has lost its legal, moral, and humanitarian compass.
At the same time, there is a consensus among analysts and observers following developments in the region that, as usual, Israel announced that it would not adhere to a ceasefire, and did not show any concern for the UNSC's conclusions. This is what Israel did a few months ago regarding the initial findings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on genocide. Unfortunately, this position has been met with hesitation and negativity from world governments, which have so far avoided holding Israel accountable for its legal and humanitarian violations towards the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip. This negative attitude threatens to slide the international community at a faster rate towards favoring force and brutality over law through jungle practices at the expense of international rules and laws.
The US position on the Gaza issue raises several questions, whether about its international assessments and responsibilities in general or its positions in the Middle East in particular. It seems that Washington has lost much of its limited credibility in the region as a result of its opposition to the ceasefire for months and its continued supply of American weapons to Israel in violation of American laws that prohibit their use against civilians.
The US loses its reputation in the Middle East
The prestige of the US was shaken after the Israeli-American exchange over the situation in Rafah and the issuance of a UNSC resolution on Gaza. This was after the Israeli Prime Minister announced that he was determined to carry out massive ground military operations in Rafah even if the US objected. Tel Aviv's public threat to cancel a previously scheduled visit of Israeli officials to Washington in response to a direct invitation from the US President if the US did not object to the resolution. The threat was mitigated, and Israel cancelled the visit immediately after the US abstained from voting instead of using its veto.
Everyone must make strong and wise decisions if the dangerous repercussions of the Israel-Hamas war are to be avoided for all parties in the Middle East and prevent the region from sliding into a regional war.
Photo: The US has lost much of its limited credibility in the region as a result of its opposition to the ceasefire in Israel (by Adobe)