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Former UN humanitarian chief urges action after Palestinian statehood recognition
Martin Griffiths, former UN humanitarian chief, says several countries’ recognition of Palestinian statehood within UN premises was important, yet more needs to be done.
“The huge majority of member states of the United Nations supported this long-delayed but necessary recognition of the Palestinian state, but now the hard work starts,” he told Al Jazeera.
“We will be watching very carefully if those governments and the General Assembly move to action instead of these words – and that will be a test to the UN’s credibility,” Griffiths said.
“The UN has as its primary funding purpose ensuring peace and security – now [that] the UN Security Council is not doing that, it’s moral for the UN General Assembly.”
Palestine recognition ‘testament to perseverance’ of Palestinians
As world leaders gathered at the UN yesterday to emphasise the need for a Palestinian state, dozens of protesters in New York City banged on pots to underscore the deadly hunger in Gaza.
Maamoun Hussein, one of the demonstrators, said the growing international recognition of the state of Palestine is a positive step, but it must be followed by a meaningful push to end Israeli abuses in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.
“It’s a testament to the perseverance of the Palestinian people for over 78 years of genocide and ethnic cleansing,” Hussein told Al Jazeera.
“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,” he said.
