Muhammad Awais 

Peace in Gaza is blocked by one hand, the hand that rises every time a resolution is presented in the United Nations Security Council to halt the bloodshed. Each time the world gathers to stop genocide in Gaza, the same ritual unfolds: a resolution is drafted, debated, and then vetoed. The main obstacle to peace in Gaza is the repeated use of veto power by the United States. On September 17, the US exercised its veto for the sixth time and again vetoed a UN resolution to end the war. Each time the US ambassador raises their hand, it symbolises the larger failure of so-called international justice.

Gaza, a densely populated strip under relentless Israeli assault, has become the epicentre of one of the most enduring humanitarian crises of our time. Continuous bombardment for almost two years has turned houses into rubble, destroyed hospitals, universities, and mosques and left millions homeless.

Veto power, initially intended to protect the international community from making rash decisions, has, in fact, become a tool for safeguarding political allies. Each veto is not just a "No" vote but a decision to give the green light to commit genocide. The repeated use of veto power undermines the legitimacy of international organisations established to combat such crimes. The foundational idea of these organisations is dying day by day.

The human cost of these repeated vetoes is staggering. More than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in the two-year war in Gaza. Thousands have been displaced, children are dying of hunger, and entire generations are growing up with violence as their normality. Now, IDF soldiers are forcefully pushing people out of their homes.

When a single hand rises again and again, the message is clear: peace is not desired by those who hold power. There is no morality in this international system. Peace becomes negotiable only when it aligns with the strategic interests of the powerful. For the people of Gaza, peace is systematically blocked. It is impossible to negotiate safety when the world’s most influential actor has already decided that justice depends on the preferences of a “friend state.”

Since October 7, 2023, the United States has implemented remarkable measures to bolster Israel through financial, military, and diplomatic means. According to the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding, the United States allocates $3.8 billion each year for military assistance, which includes $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and an additional $500 million designated for missile defence initiatives. When factoring in supplementary U.S. regional operations and weapons transfers, the total expenditures associated with these efforts amounted to no less than $22.76 billion by September 2024. The United States has also committed to additional wartime procurements, including a declared $3.5 billion IMF obligation in August 2024, and has facilitated contracts for missile-defence systems and munitions. Reports indicate that Israel had utilised supplemental appropriations, such as $5.2 billion, for procurement contracts by early 2025.

In addition to financial assistance, the support provided by the US encompasses swift transfer of armaments from its reserves, the provision of sophisticated aircraft and precision-guided munitions, collaborative efforts in missile-defence initiatives such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow, loan guarantees and unwavering diplomatic backing, most notably support in the UNSC veto against resolutions. The collective natures of these actions illustrate that US support has been characterised by strategic intent, broad scope and continuity extending into 2024-25.

The entire world bears responsibility for the genocide in Gaza. The so-called rhetoric of human rights has failed. Every silence, every abstention, every failure to exert pressure is another form of complicity. Yet the veto stands apart: a blatant, public declaration that Gaza will not be allowed peace.

The efforts by some European countries to establish peace in Gaza are applaudable. On September 22, during the UN General Assembly in New York, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and Andorra declared they were recognising the state of Palestine. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal extended their recognition a day earlier. These historic moves brought 156 countries to recognise Palestinian statehood. In the past, the European Union remained divided on the issue. But now we have seen that voices have started rising within the EU for the recognition of the Palestinian state. Britain and France’s decisions mark a historic break.

There are political reasons behind these moves. Public opinion in many European countries is overwhelmingly pro-Palestinian, and governments cannot ignore their citizens. A second factor is the growing rift between Europe and the United States on NATO, Tariffs, and Washington’s increasingly unilateral attitude. Another reason lies in ideology; European states are reasserting their liberal human rights values.

History will remember that European countries stood on the frontline in defending Gaza, while many Arab and Muslim governments stood by and just watched. History will remember the raised hand as cruel. Until these hands stand, peace is impossible in Gaza.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of The Himalayan Research Institute Pakistan - (THRIP)

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Muhammad Awais is a master's student in Political Ideas in a Digital Age at CY Cergy Paris University, France. He regularly writes on international affairs, geopolitical developments, and global flashpoints.