GAZA: The Puppet Masters at the UN Security Council

Critics have questioned the UN's sluggish decision-making process, especially within the framework of the Security Council

GAZA
The UN Security Council bears responsibility for the crimes committed by Israel in Gaza - Photo by CHUTTERSNAP / Unsplash

The United Nations has strongly denounced the attacks on civilians during the Israel-Hamas conflict, including the strike on the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, which was labeled as "completely unacceptable" by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk.

However, the UN has not taken significant action following the Israeli rocket strike on its Gaza compound on October 15, 2023. While UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and called for an immediate investigation, no further steps have been taken by the UN.

This lack of action can be attributed to various factors, including the absence of consensus within the Security Council, the US's veto of the UN Security Council resolution, and the UN's limited capacity to enforce its decisions. Despite the UN's calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict, the conflict persists with no apparent resolution in sight.

Critics have questioned the UN's sluggish decision-making process, especially within the framework of the Security Council. Several reasons contribute to the UN's delayed decision-making:

Puppet Masters at the UN Security Council

  1. Outdated Composition and Decision-Making Rules: The UN Security Council's composition and decision-making rules have become outdated and do not reflect the shifting global power dynamics and emerging moral authorities. Reform efforts aimed at altering the council's membership and decision-making rules through a UN Charter amendment are lengthy and challenging.
  2. Veto Power of Permanent Members: The veto power held by the five permanent members of the Security Council (the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom) has been a significant obstacle to the council's effectiveness and legitimacy. The issue of the veto has hindered progress on council expansion.
  3. Artificial Deadlines: UN decision-making is often constrained by artificial deadlines, and intergovernmental negotiations can be obstructed by certain states, slowing down the process of achieving a consensus-based solution.
  4. Bureaucracy and Administrative Procedures: The UN's bureaucracy and cumbersome administrative procedures can contribute to delays in decision-making processes.
  5. Lack of Transparency and Legitimacy: The UN's lack of transparency and perceived legitimacy issues, particularly concerning the Security Council's slow responses to conflicts in Africa, have been criticized.

UN Bias is obvious

Critics also accuse the UN of bias or being under the influence of certain powerful nations. For instance, North Korea has referred to the UN's monitoring of its human rights issues as a "puppet" of the US. The term "puppet state" typically refers to a country controlled by another nation, and some critics have labeled the UN as being under the control or influence of particular powerful countries.

It's important to note that the UN is an intergovernmental organization that operates through a democratic process involving all member states, and its decisions are not controlled by any single country or individual. While the UN has faced criticism for its slow decision-making and perceived ineffectiveness in some instances, it remains a vital forum for international cooperation and diplomacy.

The UN's sluggish decision-making process can be attributed to several factors, including an outdated Security Council composition and decision-making rules, the veto power of permanent members, artificial deadlines, bureaucratic procedures, and concerns regarding transparency and legitimacy.

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