UN urged to enforce Gaza truce
Gulf states also call on international community to recognize ‘State of Palestine’ to ensure justice
The international community is demanding an effective enforcement of the March 25 United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza during the fasting month of Ramadan after Israel refused to change course, widening its global isolation.
The calls have grown specifically louder in the Middle East, led by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait — which have urged nations to expedite recognition of the Palestinian state.
In a statement posted on the website of the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 26, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah, urged the international community to take a “collective
and urgent measure” to recognize Palestine.
The statement called for measures to spare the Palestinians “the plight of destitution, genocide and human tragedy and ensuring the return of refugees”, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and international legitimacy resolutions.
Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, stressed the need for the international community “to shoulder its responsibility toward the crisis in the Gaza Strip”, especially after the UNSC resolution.
Apart from calling for a cease-fire, the resolution also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and emphasizes the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In a weekly media briefing on March 26, Al Ansari expressed hope that the resolution would “expedite ending the conflict, be useful on the
diplomatic front, and have a positive impact on the negotiations”.
Al Ansari also clarified that Qatari efforts “are continuing, mediation with the partners is ongoing, and negotiations and meetings have not stopped” despite the UNSC resolution.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged all parties to “comply with their obligations under international law”, and renewed its call on the international community “to assume its responsibility to stop the Israeli occupation’s attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip”.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on its X account, called on all parties to “adhere to and fully implement this resolution” and that the international community “must ensure its success”, as it vowed to continue advocating for a permanent end to the war and a viable two-state solution.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani described the UNSC resolution as “positive but
insufficient”, saying that what was more important was “to take an effective step toward enforcing it”, end the attacks on Gaza, and provide necessary funding for the immediate start of the reconstruction of destroyed parts of Gaza, including homes and vital infrastructure such as hospitals and service facilities.
Despite international pressure, Israel — which launched retaliatory strikes in Gaza following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct 7 when 1,200 Israelis were killed — has refused to end its bombardments. More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed amid the ongoing conflict.
Al Jazeera reported on March 27 that attacks in Rafah by Israel had intensified on the ground with the “constant buzzing sound of drones, taking a mental toll on people and making it hard to sleep”.
Four people had been killed and their bodies transferred to Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital while about 25 others had been injured and taken to Kuwaiti Hospital, Abu Youssef alNajjar Hospital, or European Gaza Hospital.
Belal Alakhras, a political analyst and Palestinian researcher at the University of Malaya in Malaysia, told China Daily that Israel’s refusal to heed the UNSC’s call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza carries some notable implications.
“This underscores Israel’s increasingly isolated position, even among traditionally supportive member states who initially balked at the resolution but now recognize the need for diplomatic maneuvering,” said Alakhras.
“The Israeli occupation’s defiance and rejection of the cease-fire resolution shed light on the vulnerabilities and fractures within the rules-based international order led by Washington,” he added.
“Those in more vulnerable positions within this framework are likely to bear the brunt of these shortcomings, potentially leading to distant and independent actions in the long term.
“These unfolding events mark a pivotal moment, highlighting the complexities and challenges within our current geopolitical landscape,” Alakhras added.