Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eli Cohen, recently announced that the country will not renew the visa of one United Nations’ (UN) employee and will also not issue a new visa to a second UN official working on the ground in Israel and Gaza. However, Cohen did not specify who these UN officials were. The decisions were prompted by the UN’s response to the October 7 Hamas attacks, which led Israel to declare war against Hamas.
Cohen rebuked the UN accusing the organization and the international community of disgraceful conduct since October 7th. He highlighted his perceptions of the UN’s shortcomings including the Secretary-General who legitimized war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Human Rights Commissioner’s publication of unsubstantiated blood libels, and UN Women’s two-month silence on the acts of rape against Israeli women.
This move follows the recent increase in tensions between the UN and Israel, exemplified by the UN Security Council’s vote on a resolution, sponsored by the UAE, that called for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and a “sustainable cessation of hostilities”. Cohen responded by emphasizing the need to ensure that the humanitarian aid reaches its intended recipients and does not fall into the hands of Hamas terrorists.
This is not an isolated incident. Earlier in 2023, the UN Security Council voted on two resolutions calling for a ceasefire, sponsored by Brazil and brought forth by UN Secretary General António Guterres, who invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to do so. Both resolutions were, however, vetoed by the US, one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council with veto power.
In early December, Israel dispatched a letter to the UN announcing its intention not to renew the visa of UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lynn Hastings, due to her silence on the October 7 Hamas attacks. This was accompanied by the UN’s condemnation of the restart of armed conflict after a negotiated ceasefire concluded.
The Israel-Hamas war, initiated by Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, escalated with Israel’s declaration of war and heavy bombings in the Gaza Strip. The conflict resulted in thousands of casualties, numerous abductions, and widespread accusations of war crimes from both sides. A temporary ceasefire was agreed upon between Israel and Hamas in late November, which was later extended but ultimately ended, leading to a resumption of conflict.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 20,000, while the Israeli government has stated that Israeli casualties have exceeded a thousand, with hundreds taken hostage by Hamas.
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