Gaza and Palestine were dominant themes at UN. Will it make a difference?

Gaza and Palestine have been the dominant topics at the United Nations as world leaders convened at the 80th General Assembly (UNGA) in New York over the past week.

In their speeches, UN Security Council (UNSC) meetings, sideline events and media briefings, many countries – from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to France to Malaysia – called for an end to Israeli atrocities in Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
But as most of the world rallied around Palestine in the first week of the UNGA, Israel killed at least 661 Palestinians in Gaza and pushed on unabated with its ground assault on Gaza City.

Diplomats and analysts say rhetoric and diplomatic moves alone, including the recognition of a Palestinian state, are not enough to move the needle on the ground, or improve the situation of Palestinians under bombardment and occupation.

Rights advocates are seeking an arms embargo and sanctions against Israel to force it to end its abuses.

Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, executive secretary of the Hague Group – a coalition of countries pushing for such measures against Israel – said the “situation keeps getting worse” because Israel continues to have access to weapons and resources.

“The economic might of the genocidal machine is still not weakened. Israel continues to receive arms,” Gandikota-Nellutla told Al Jazeera.

Palestine recognition
During the UNGA, dozens of countries convened for a summit to push for the two-state solution, while several Western states, including Australia, France and the United Kingdom, formally recognised Palestine.
“It’s a testament to the perseverance of the Palestinian people for over 78 years of genocide and ethnic cleansing,” Hussein told Al Jazeera, referring to the growing number of countries now recognising Palestinian statehood.

“But these countries have the power to do an arms embargo. They have the power to put pressure on Israel. Instead, all the Arab countries now are at risk. The entire world is at risk because they’re changing the entire legal system to suit Israel, which is a terrorist, genocidal state.”

While ravaging Gaza and intensifying attacks and annexation efforts in the occupied West Bank, Israel has also carried out attacks against Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iran and Qatar in recent months. The Israeli military is also widely believed to have struck a Gaza-bound humanitarian boat in a Tunisian port.

Gandikota-Nellutla also said that while recognising Palestinians’ right to self-determination is an important step, more must be done.