Twelve of the 15 members of the UN Security Council voted yesterday in support of a Brazilian motion calling for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza. The USA used its right of “veto” to defeat the resolution. But the damage to Israel and the US is growing. Read more.
In the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th which ended up killing a large number of civilians, global opinion was horrified. Many world leaders, especially in Western countries, expressed their shock and indignation.
But that opinion seems to be gradually swinging the other way as Palestinian casualties mount in Gaza. Calls are particularly strong from the global south for a stop to the murderous US-backed Israeli attack on civilians trapped in Gaza with nowhere to hide.
Yesterday, the UN’s “Third committee” which focuses on social, humanitarian and cultural affairs spent a half day debating the worsening situation in Gaza. Countries from around the world expressed concern. (Predictably, but disappointingly Canada’s delegate spoke only to the need to free all hostages immediately and unconditionally rather than the growing humanitarian catastrophe facing 2 million people.)
UN Security Council vote
There was also high drama at the UN Security Council, the highest UN body, where 12 of the 15 members voted for an immediate humanitarian pause to deliver lifesaving aid to Gaza.
The USA was forced to use its veto power to prevent the motion from passing.
Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, USA, France, UK and Russia), the US was the only one to vote against the resolution. France voted in favour. The UK abstained.
Russia abstained after having unsuccessfully proposed stronger amendments to end indiscriminate attacks on civilians and infrastructure in Gaza and condemning the blockade on Gaza. “If these are not included it would not help to address the human situation in Gaza”, said Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia.
The UN doesn’t have an army, so a vote by the UNSC has primarily “moral” value. But in the eyes of Palestinians makes it clear that this not just an Israeli attack on Gaza, but an American-Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people.
China intervenes
China is increasingly playing a role in international fora, this time voting in favour of the resolution, including supporting the stronger Russian amendment. In addition to calling for emergency support for Palestinian civilians, China reiterated its support for a two state solution. Palestine has a right to statehood, said the Chinese spokesperson.
In a rebuke to the failed US-led peace talks, China called for a “more authoritative, influential and broad-based international peace conference to be held under the auspices of the UN”.
“The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East issue”, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. “The root cause of this question lies in the failure to redress the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people. (…) The Jewish nation is no longer homeless in the world, but when will the Palestinian nation return to its home?”
NOTICE: CTIP just received this notice from APAC (Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians) calling for a demonstration in Ottawa this Sunday, October 22. We are happy to share it
Demonstration in Ottawa, Sunday, Oct 22 2 p.m.
THE SIEGE ON GAZA MUST END!
In the immediate term, we call on the Canadian Government, in partnership with the international community, to urgently exercise all efforts to:
• Call for a cease fire and an end to the bombing and siege of Gaza; and
• Demand that critically needed humanitarian aid be allowed into Gaza without condition.
Bring your friends, family and everyone you can.
Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is the weekly newsletter of Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion in Canada about Canada’s response to the complicated and emotional Israel/Palestine issue with a focus on the truth, clear analysis and human rights for all. Readers with different points of view are invited to make comment.
Want to learn more about us? Go to Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine.ca
Canada Talks Israel/Palestine 
No it’s only you!
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Thanks, Amnonz,
One of us is wrong. Time will tell.
The news is improving if only slightly Marianna
ya insane ,,.israel leaders have burnt paletinian homes ,olive farms , murdered the citizens etc etc for many years and hamas finally fought back and they are the bad guys ??actually how they fought back was terrible for sure but israel now has a reason to wipe out every man woman and child in gaza ..their original goal only now much faster..so sad..and way to many north american medias all about POOR ISRAEL ???so sad
The US is devoid of any moral authority and Canada follows meekly like little sheep . Their hypocrisy is shameful and frightening.
Peter , thank for this and for all that you are doing!
Alex
“The only time it is right to look down at someone is when we are offering our hand to help them get up.” Pope Francis – “Let Us Dream”
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Not one of those corrupt western leaders, who fall upon themselves to kiss Netanyahu’s back side, even once mentioned that : We have to bring peace and freedom to Palestinians overall. They actually became advocates of pushing Israel to do genocide. And giving them support and billions to achieve this. Those leaders should be put on a truck and sent to Gaza for awhile and see how they’ll chirp. A corrupt world , full of politicians criminals. We have to stand up and expose the truths.
In case something went wrong, here it is again:
As usual your commentary largely ignores the role Palestinian hatred of Jews plays in the conflict. You write that the “Hamas attack on Israel ended up killing a lot of civilians.” This completely fails to capture the barbarous nature of the atrocities committed by Hamas against Israelis.
The daily briefing from Times of Israel on Wednesday included an account of the work of the Israeli head of forensics in the aftermath of the massacre. For days, his work consisted of examining one victim after another. He found that victims were first tied up and then stabbed. They were tortured by being burned alive and then shot. The treatment of children was the same as the treatment of adults.
Women were raped among the dead bodies. Parents were murdered in front of their children. The naked body of a young woman was paraded through the streets of Gaza as a grotesque trophy. The failure of the Palestinian leadership of the PA to condemn these actions is noted, as is the eagerness of the media in the Arab world and beyond to blame Israel for the horrific attack on the hospital in Gaza, which was caused by a missile launched by a terrorist group in Gaza and intended to kill large numbers of Israelis.
Hamas revealed itself to be an organization like ISIS which cannot be treated with, whose very existence is an existential threat to the Israelis living beside it. Your commentary refers to an Israeli American war on the Palestinian people. It ignores the fact that large numbers of Palestinians are being killed by Hamas and its terrorist allies in its attempt to protect itself from Israel’s entirely justified response to its depraved and genocidal incursion into the communities of the Gaza periphery.
It ignores the call issued by Hamas for a global war against the Jews. This call has led to the burning down of a synagogue in Tunisia, the murder of a Jewish teacher in France and calls to gas the Jews at a demonstration in London.
Your comments whitewash the nature of the death cult which holds the people of Gaza hostage and completely mischaracterizes the purpose and nature of Israel’s righteous response to an act of pure evil committed against its citizens. You do no favours to the Palestinian people you purport to defend by ignoring the true source of their suffering, which is the 17 year reign of terror in Gaza by Hamas.
Hey David,
Hamas has called for a “global war against the Jews”???. Where did you see that? Are you in 2023 or some past time?
The original Hamas charter (1989, I think) was filled with crude anti-semitic rant, including reference to the discredited Elders of Zion document, that Jews started WWI and control the Rotary and Lions clubs. But as you know, that was changed in 2017, and all that junk was replaced by a new charter which is quite explicit that their fight is not against Jews but against the Zionists who took their land. Here is the link. The relevant item is point 16. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hamas-2017-document-full
And comparing Hamas to ISIS is hasbara nonsense. Here is an article from Haaretz which discusses the difference. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-19/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/is-hamas-really-like-isis-experts-explain/0000018b-493f-d1fd-a59f-edbfbe090000
I am happy to engage seriously with you, David, when and if you are willing to engage in serious discussion.
Peter, my comment is entirely serious. Your response ignores most of my arguments and picks up on one which you think you can shoot down.
If you care about Palestinians, why aren’t you calling for the release of hostages (which would lead to the resumption of the daily flow of aid which enters Gaza every day from Israel) and an end to the rocket fire by Palestinian terrorists, which has already killed hundreds of Palestinians?
You claim to advocate for peaceful coexistence and the need to persuade Jews that they could safely live in a Palestinian state. How are you not denouncing everything Hamas is doing, which is likely to ensure many more years of war and misery for the Palestinians?
Hey David,
My understanding is that Hamas has already agreed to trade its women and children hostages against the women and children now held in Israeli jails.
We could start with the children.
Mr. Roytenberg,
What makes you think that, the release of hostages ‘would lead to the resumption of the daily flow of aid which enters Gaza every day from Israel”. Has Israel said it would negotiate such an exchange? I have not seen or heard any willingness to negotiate from the Israeli side. They seem to prefer continuing with their murderous attacks on Gaza.
I suspect that if Hamas were to release the hostages, the attacks on Gaza would increase. Why do you think otherwise?
Here is a report with a link to the call by a leader of Hamas for global Jihad against Jews to which I referred in my earlier post: https://x.com/BrotherRasheed/status/1711933917098316276?s=20
Hey David,
The link you provided calls for Muslims to attack Israel, not a “global war against Jews”. Every Israeli who drops a bomb, mans a tank, beats up a Palestinian, confiscates his land or is a sniper trying to kill him is a Jew. So its hard to blame him for conflating Israel and Judaism, do you not agree?
Mr. Roytenberg,
I have heard hatred of Jews from individual Arabs and hatred of Arabs from individual Jews. It seems to be an unfortunate human characteristic that when two groups are fighting, people compare the best actions and statements from of their group with the worst statements and actions attributed to the other side. If you open your eyes, you will find haters on both sides.
Hatred captures our attention and usually wins. Haters do hateful things and those who do hateful things will be hated. Those who want to break this vicious cycle must stop repeating every hateful thing they hear. Hatred usually ends up hurting the hater more than it hurts the hated. Bombing people’s homes is a hateful act and it is breeding more hatred.
Some of the stories of atrocities committed by Hamas fighters are contradicted by some stories coming from survivors. It will take a long time for us to learn the full truth. Perhaps we will never know the truth. Perhaps the attackers were not all the same.
In the meantime, treat others the way you would want to be treated. Only if you follow that rule, is there a hope for a more peaceful world.
שלןם
There is overwhelming evidence for the atrocities I wrote about. Shame on you for throwing doubt on them. If you care about Palestinians it’s important not to apologized for them when they commit crimes against humanity. I can’t take you seriously any accusations by you against Israel when you are blind to those who are committing war crimes and genocide in the name of Palestine.