Rarely has the choice facing States at this month’s UN General Assembly (UNGA) been so pivotal.

The horrific genocide in Gaza is unabating. Its gruesome trail of death and destruction is visible for all to see. No one can claim to be unaware.

As the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recently pointed out, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, killings, attacks and harassment of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers and settlers, demolition of homes, and forced displacements are contributing to the ongoing consolidation of annexation of West Bank territory by Israel, in violation of international law.

The vast majority of States are signatories to the Genocide Convention under which they have an obligation to both prevent and punish genocide. They also overwhelmingly voted on September 18, 2024 for UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/Es-10/24 (based on the Advisory Opinion on July 19, 2024 of the International Court of Justice), demanding that Israel brings to an end, within a year, its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and specifying the measures that all States must take in accordance with their obligations under international law.

Citizens of these States want concrete action to be taken to stop the genocide in Gaza and end Israel’s illegal occupation and system of apartheid. Even within those States most complicit in aiding Israel’s genocide, the majority of people want to stop its illegal, inhumane and genocidal actions –  as shown by recent polling in the US, UK and Germany.

We are now approaching the anniversary of UNGA Resolution A/RES/Es-10/24, yet Israel continues its slaughter of Palestinians and total disregard for international law with impunity. The US ensures this through use of its veto, against the wishes of the vast majority of UN States, and recently revoked the visas of the Palestinian delegation to the high-level meeting of the 80th session of the UNGA. It is acting like the bully in the school playground and must be faced down.  

States have a tool at their disposal to do this and ensure that Israel’s genocide is ended, international law is upheld and peace and justice prevail. It is the Uniting for Peace resolution. They should use it.

In a recent article titled ‘How the UN could act today to stop the genocide in Palestine’, Craig Mokhiber, international human rights lawyer and former senior United Nations human rights official, explains how the UNGA, with a two-thirds majority, can circumvent the use of the US veto in the Security Council and vote to take the measures that are so desperately needed.

Amongst the possible measures is the mandate for “an armed, multinational, UN protection force to deploy to Gaza (and, ultimately, to the West Bank), acting at the request of the State of Palestine, to protect civilians, open entry points via land and sea, facilitate humanitarian aid, preserve evidence of Israeli crimes, and assist in recovery and reconstruction”. This is essential if Israel’s genocide is to be stopped and is needed now. Every day of delay means more death and suffering.

States at the UNGA this month have a clear yet crucial choice to make: either allow the genocide to continue or end it. For humanity’s sake, let us hope they make the right one!

Do you want to be informed of DiEM25's actions? Sign up here