How the UN Can Act to Stop Gaza Genocide: Craig Mokhiber Explains

US Visa Denials and International Law

• 🚫 The U.S. is facing criticism for suspending visas for Palestinian passport holders, including officials set to attend the UN General Assembly.
• ⚖️ This action is seen as a breach of the U.S.'s legal obligations under the UN headquarters agreement and convention on privileges and immunities.
• 🇮🇱 The U.S. government is accused of importing the Israeli regime's racist ideology into U.S. laws and policies, effectively handing over foreign policy levers.

The "Uniting for Peace" Resolution

• 🌍 The UN General Assembly has a mechanism called "Uniting for Peace" (adopted in 1950) that can circumvent a U.S. veto in the Security Council.
• 🚨 This resolution was last used effectively in 1956 to mandate the UN emergency force in the Suez crisis, acting against the wishes of Security Council members.
• 🛠️ It allows 193 member states to adopt concrete actions, such as mandating a UN protection force for civilians in Gaza, ensuring humanitarian aid, and preserving evidence of war crimes.

Potential UN General Assembly Actions

• 🛡️ A "Uniting for Peace" resolution could mandate a UN protection force for Gaza, specifically tasked with protecting civilians and delivering aid.
• ⚖️ It could also involve denying credentials to Israel in the General Assembly, similar to apartheid South Africa, and establishing a tribunal for Israeli perpetrators.
• 🏛️ The International Court of Justice has found that Israel has no sovereignty or legal standing in Gaza or the West Bank, meaning it cannot refuse intervention to protect Palestinians.

Obstacles and International Pressure

• 🇺🇸 The United States may use threats and pressure tactics, particularly against developing economies reliant on foreign aid, to obstruct UN action.
• 📢 However, the "Uniting for Peace" mechanism cannot be blocked by the Secretary-General or the Security Council, requiring only a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly.
• 🌍 Under public scrutiny, every state will be compelled to declare whether they support protection for a people undergoing genocide.

Statehood vs. Immediate Protection

• 🇵🇸 While recognition of a Palestinian state is important, it is not the immediate solution to stopping the ongoing genocide.
• 🎯 The focus needs to be on immediate protection for the Palestinian people and the beginning of their liberation, rather than distractions like statehood recognition during a genocide.