Western Silence on Gaza: A Stain on Global Conscience

The continuous violence in Gaza once more reveals the alarming double standards of Western political elites, especially their neglect of international peace and justice. President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Philemon Yang has made a strong appeal to stop what he called Israel's "genocidal war" in Gaza. Delivered at the General Assembly's 10th Special Emergency Session, his remarks draw attention to mounting annoyance at the UN Security Council's (UNSC) incapacity for decisive action.

Yang's comments align with the Security Council's most recent inability to approve a resolution urging an instantaneous ceasefire in Gaza. The United States rejected the resolution despite getting 14 votes in favor, therefore highlighting Washington's relentless support of Israel even at the expense of world criticism. This is the fourth time the U.S. has used its veto to thwart initiatives meant to reduce the bloodshed in Gaza, therefore casting doubt on the legitimacy of Western countries' dedication to international law and human rights.

Gaza's current scenario is catastrophic. Thousands of people have died since the intensification of hostilities; women and children have suffered most from the fighting. Humanitarian groups have often cautioned of a disastrous breakdown in basic services including electricity, water, and healthcare. Western political leaders, on the other hand, have mostly stayed mute or produced comments failing to solve the underlying reasons of the violence while the world watches in horror.

Paralysis of the UNSC is not an unusual occurrence. Its system, which gives permanent members veto authority, has long been attacked for letting strong countries give geopolitical alliances first priority over world peace and security. In this instance, the U.S. veto captures a larger Western cooperation in the suffering of Palestinian people. Shielding Israel from responsibility, the United States and its allies have essentially approved activities deemed as war crimes by numerous human rights organizations as green light.

Usually justified under the cover of Israel's right to self-defense, this relentless backing is But this story deftly overlooks the decades of systematic persecution, occupation, and displacement Palestinians endured. Now in its 17th year, the continuous blockade of Gaza has transformed the land into an outdoor jail where its people live in conditions many foreign observers have called appalling.

Yang's appeal for the General Assembly to lead in conflict resolution serves as a sobering reminder of the necessity of a more democratic and fair method of world administration. Although the General Assembly lacks the Security Council's binding power, it speaks for the whole world—a voice that is progressively calling for justice for Palestine.

Inaction by the West not only compromises its moral power but also encourages other countries to reject global rules. Western nations convey a terrible message by neglecting to hold Israel responsible: that geopolitics and alliances come before human life and international law.

The cycle of impunity has to stop if the values the West pretends to support—democracy, human rights, and the rule of law—have any relevance. This calls for more than just platitudes; it calls for specific steps including penalties, responsibility policies, and a termination of the double standards defining the response of the international community to the Israeli-Palestinian problem.