The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday that the Palestinian Authority could seek full United Nations membership this year.
“This is an investment in peace and an investment in saving the two-state solution,” Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters at the United Nations.
In November 2012, the U.N. General Assembly voted to upgrade the Palestinians’ status to that of a nonmember observer state, allowing its envoy to participate in debates and U.N. organizations but without a vote. The Palestine Liberation Organization was recognized as an observer entity in 1974.
Mansour said the Palestinian Authority, with the backing of Arab states, would start mobilizing support to go to the U.N. Security Council, which holds the key to membership because it must back a request before it can go to the General Assembly for a final decision. That means at least nine council members must vote in favor of the move, and none of the permanent five members can veto it.
The United States is a permanent council member and has overwhelmingly used its veto over the decades to block actions that would negatively impact Israel or that Israel does not support. Washington’s longstanding policy has been that final status issues must be resolved through direct negotiations between the parties in order to reach a two-state solution.
In 2012, when the Palestinians’ status was upgraded in the General Assembly, the U.S. was one of only nine countries, including Israel, and the only permanent council member that voted against it.
“The obstacle is in the Security Council,” Mansour acknowledged. “We need to find a solution to that obstacle and to remove it from the path so that the State of Palestine assumes its rightful place as member state of the United Nations.”
Mansour said Arab foreign ministers will meet in mid-March, which could be an important moment in deciding when they would move toward the Security Council. He noted that the U.S. is in an election year, which would also play a role in timing.
“Maybe things need to be done before May, before we go into full swing of elections,” he said of the U.S. presidential race.
But as the war between Israel and Hamas enters its fourth month, Mansour said the top priority remains achieving a cease-fire.
“If you want peace, start with a cease-fire. Cease-fire. Cease-fire. And cease-fire, now,” he said at a related meeting in the General Assembly, holding up a small sign with the words.
At the same meeting, Israel’s envoy said a cease-fire would only help keep Hamas in power in the Gaza Strip, which it has ruled since 2007.
“A cease-fire is a victory for Hamas. Nothing more,” said Ambassador Gilad Erdan. “It is an opportunity for Hamas to rearm, regroup and recommit as they declare the atrocities of October 7 a greenlight for Hamas to continue their reign of terror in Gaza.”
He lashed out at the United Nations, saying it does not care about Israeli victims of Hamas, only the Palestinians in Gaza. The U.S.-designated terror group triggered the war with Israel when its fighters infiltrated southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking some 240 others hostage. About 100 hostages have since been freed.
“To the U.N., Israeli victims are probably not victims,” Erdan said. “The U.N. has become another tool of war in the arsenal of terrorists, and every single U.N. agency and body has been weaponized against Israel.”
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said Guterres is “obsessed” with protecting all civilians caught in the conflict.
“He has been calling for the protections of all civilians from the beginning,” Dujarric said. “He has been calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages. And as you know, he met with families, and he has been doing whatever he can to facilitate their return. I think our work on behalf of civilians in Gaza is also fairly transparent to all.”
The situation in Gaza is dire. The Hamas-run Health Ministry says more than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 60,000 injured. The United Nations says 1.9 million people have been displaced, hunger is severe, and disease is on the rise.
On Tuesday, the U.N. department of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) said that since January 1, its partners have requested 20 aid convoys for clearance to move in Gaza. Fifteen were denied, and two were unable to proceed because of delays or routes that were impassable.
When VOA asked who denied the requests, Dujarric said it was the Israeli authorities.
OCHA said three convoys went to northern Gaza but with modifications to the plans, which impacted their operations.
The U.N. Security Council is due to discuss the situation in Gaza on Friday in an open meeting. On January 23, the council will also hold a ministerial-level meeting on the crisis.
Several Arab and Muslim foreign ministers are expected to fly in for the session as they press for a cease-fire, more humanitarian aid to Gaza and an end to the forced displacement of nearly 2 million Palestinians.
