GENEVA — A year ago, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel but noted in his remarks to the Security Council that these events “did not occur in a vacuum.” This statement was quickly criticized by Israel and continues to influence U.N. operations in the Middle East.
Israeli officials and citizens expressed outrage, accusing the U.N. chief of attempting to justify the day’s atrocities, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals and approximately 250 hostages being taken.
On the other hand, Palestinian leaders commended Guterres for defending human rights and acknowledging the difficulties faced by Palestinians over more than fifty years of occupation.
Israel’s strained relationship with the U.N. dates back long before Guterres took office, with Israeli leaders consistently alleging anti-Israel bias within the organization. However, Guterres’ comments on October 24, 2023, have significantly shaped the ongoing relationship between Israel and the U.N. during the conflict.
The ties between the two are currently at a historic low.
Here’s an overview of the complicated yet essential relationship between the U.N. and Israel, along with its implications for the people of Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon:
On October 2, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz labeled Guterres as “persona non grata,” stating he was unwelcome in the country.
Katz tweeted that the U.N. chief had not “unequivocally” condemned an Iranian attack on Israel the previous night and accused him of supporting militant groups in the region, calling this support “a stain on the history of the U.N.”
Israel has intensified efforts to dismantle the U.N. agency that aids millions of Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA. Two bills, recently approved by an Israeli parliamentary committee to prohibit its operations within Israeli territory, await final approval from the Knesset.
The head of UNRWA warned that such actions could lead to the agency’s collapse, leaving hundreds of thousands in need.
Israel claims that some employees of UNRWA, the primary aid provider in Gaza, were involved in the October 7 attacks. As a result, more than a dozen staff members were terminated following an internal investigation.
In Lebanon, where Israeli military action is ongoing, Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted U.N. peacekeepers monitoring a 2006 cease-fire with Hezbollah near the southern border.
Israel asserts that Hezbollah has developed military infrastructure near U.N. positions, suggesting that peacekeepers act as human shields by refusing to comply with Israeli evacuation requests.
Earlier this summer, the U.N.’s highest court issued a nonbinding opinion declaring that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and called for its withdrawal, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assert that these areas are part of the Jewish people’s historical homeland.
Netanyahu criticized the U.N. in a speech to the General Assembly last month, stating that as long as Israel is not treated like other nations and this “antisemitic swamp” remains, the U.N. will be perceived by fair-minded individuals as a mere farce.
In May, the General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution granting the non-member observer state of Palestine new rights and urging the Security Council to reconsider its bid for full U.N. membership.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza and left tens of thousands injured, according to local health authorities, who report that more than half of the casualties are women and children. This military action has caused extensive destruction and displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
The United Nations has stated that the conflict in Gaza has led to more U.N. personnel deaths in a single conflict than any other since its establishment after World War II in 1945.
Where has the U.N. been effective during the conflict? Despite the tension and strained relations, U.N. aid agencies have achieved some success.
UNICEF reports that its cash distribution programs have helped mitigate the economic impacts of skyrocketing unemployment and rising prices when food and other assistance cannot reach those in need. Its trucks deliver water, and its teams are involved in the reconstruction of desalination plants, providing 1.2 million doses of the polio vaccine.
The World Health Organization has taken advantage of “humanitarian pauses” during fighting to conduct a polio vaccination campaign for children in Gaza. However, due to ongoing violence and insecurity, it was unable to begin vaccinating children in northern Gaza on Wednesday.
Despite recurring obstacles, the WHO has delivered water, sanitation, and hygiene services to nearly 2 million individuals.
UNRWA remains vital despite considerable pressure from Israel, with its network of drivers, loaders, warehouse staff, shelter personnel, waste collectors, and water-well maintenance teams being crucial. Since October 7, 2023, the agency has provided nearly 6 million medical consultations in Gaza, averaging about three consultations per person.
“UNRWA is the backbone, and without it, everything collapses,” stated UNICEF spokesman James Elder. “Particularly as UNRWA faces more restrictions, everyone else has had to increase their efforts. However, no one can truly fill its role.”
In Lebanon, the U.N.’s World Food Program reported that it was well-prepared before the escalation of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and is currently providing hot meals, ready-to-eat rations, food parcels, and cash assistance to over 200,000 individuals in shelters.
Where has the U.N. faced challenges? The obstacles confronting the U.N. in alleviating the crisis are extensive. Guterres and the leaders of various U.N. agencies emphasize that a cease-fire is urgently needed.
The United Nations has been excluded from cease-fire negotiations, and its attempts to deliver much-needed food and aid have encountered numerous challenges.
Even when convoys manage to cross into Gaza, distributing assistance has become exceedingly difficult. U.N. officials cite many issues, including ongoing fighting, frequent Israeli evacuation orders, lawlessness, the looting of aid convoys, Israeli delays of preapproved deliveries, and a lack of security for drivers and humanitarian personnel.
At a recent U.N. Security Council meeting, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon attributed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to Hamas.
He stated, “The terrorist organization steals, stores, and sells the aid that enters the Gaza Strip and uses it to fuel its terrorist operations rather than assisting the Gazan population.” Danon argued that defeating and disarming Hamas is “the only way to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.”
The latest report from international experts indicates that the threat of famine looms over Gaza, with approximately 86% of its population experiencing severe hunger.
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has given the government a 30-day ultimatum to increase humanitarian deliveries to 350 trucks daily or face potential cuts in military aid.
U.N. teams have expressed frustration over limited access to essential supplies such as medicines, food, and fuel, as well as restrictions imposed by Israel on the number and duration of visas for certain U.N. personnel.
So far, just over 5,100 individuals have been evacuated from Gaza for health-related reasons, while more than three times that number are still waiting for urgent medical evacuations, according to the WHO. Israel’s closure of the Rafah border with Egypt has hindered the evacuation of sick and wounded Palestinians from Gaza.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, head of the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region, which encompasses Lebanon and Palestinian territories but not Israel, reported that her staff encountered “significant challenges” in accessing some areas, particularly in the beleaguered northern Gaza.
The WFP is among the numerous agencies seeking additional financial support, appealing for $116 million to assist up to 1 million individuals through the end of the year—assuming ports and supply lines remain operational.
