On Monday of this week, the United Nations Security Council adopted a US-sponsored resolution endorsing President Trump’s plans for the future of Gaza.
There were 13 votes in favour, including the UK, and none against. There were two abstentions – Russia and China. Such a decisive result says a lot about the imbalance of power in today’s world – reflected in the reluctance of leaders of European and other states to do other than flatter both President Trump’s ego and his approach to world affairs. Whatever they may think of either of those in private.
But there are strong arguments that the resolution adopted on Monday contradicts existing UN resolutions on Israel and Palestine, as well as considered opinions already issued by the most senior court in the world – the International Court of Justice. Indeed the contents of Monday’s resolution could even violate the founding Charter of the United Nations itself.
These observations by Francesca Albanese powerfully make the point. Herself a lawyer, she is UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967:
