Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt. UPDATE: Lavrov on the Security Council Resolution.

Respects to Francesca Albanese.  She is not willing to be silenced and is a bright and eloquent woman.  These are her comments on the very shaky so-called US peace resolution that was voted for, yesterday at the UNSC.  It is a surprise that what she says here, in principle, is exactly borne out by Mr.Lavrov in his descriptions on what is being done to scuttle multi-polarity by the collective west.  The word he uses is ‘protectorate’, which is simply control over the Palestinians that are left.  Despite the acceptance of this resolution by Hamas in principle I believe, because it contains a cease-fire clause, it is a new document of control.  The collective west cannot do it differently.  It is what they are.  I don’t know if anyone is going to cease their fire because of this resolution.

Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt

I welcome the #UNSC’s ceasefire resolution of June 10. Pending a full assessment, here are some critical observations:

1. UNSC cannot infringe people’s right to #selfdetermination. UNSC lacks authority to determine “who” will or should rule over Gaza or the rest of the oPt. Palestinians (everywhere, starting with the whole occupied Palestinian territory) will have to choose in free and democratic #elections, not piloted, controlled or vetoed by outsiders, all the more by those who have committed or supported crimes against them in 8 months of genocidal war. The fear of ideologically “extremist” parties cannot justify interfering with the free will of the people (in Palestine, Israel, Europe or elsewhere).

2. #eastJerusalem is part of the occupied Palestinian territory, with or without mention by the ceasefire resolution, and Israel must withdraw from there as well: #annexation remains unlawful.

3. Israel, NOT the international community, should pay for the #reconstruction of Gaza. There is something pedagogical in being held accountable for its own crimes, including #domicide #scholasticide and the destruction of the #health system.

4. Healing the wounds of this genocide should remain top priority for the body mandated to ensure peace & security for present and future generations.

—

A reminder of what the resolution contains from the US chat around it, and their very heavy promotion whilst having vetod any other attempt at peace or cease-fire in the past few months:

From Nate Evans, spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations:

“Israel has accepted this proposal and the Security Council has an opportunity to speak with one voice and call on Hamas to do the same,” his statement continued. “Doing so would help save lives and the suffering of civilians in Gaza as well as the hostages and their families. Council Members should not let this opportunity to pass by and must speak with one voice in support of this deal.”

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield made a similar case just before the vote, saying that every day the war goes on, “needless suffering continues.”

“Colleagues, after eight months of devastation and pain and trauma, what is needed now more than ever is for the fighting to end in a sustainable way,” she said. “The United States and every single country in this chamber wants to see an immediate cease-fire with the release of hostages. We’ve heard those calls time and time again since Oct. 7. Now the opportunity is here. We must seize it.”

Hamas released a statement following the vote saying they “welcome” what was included in the draft resolution “regarding a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.”

President Joe Biden backed the proposal in late May, announcing Israel had degraded Hamas’ capabilities and it was “time for this war to end” and the “day after to begin.”

Biden also outlined the plan’s three phases, the first lasting for six weeks and consisting of a cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, the release of a number of hostages, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The second phase would usher in a “cessation of hostilities permanently,” Biden said, should Hamas abide by the commitments laid out in the agreement, as well as the release of all remaining living hostages.

The last phase would include a reconstruction of Gaza and the return of the remains of hostages to their families.

The State Department said it was consulting with Israel on the U.N. draft resolution last week, even though Israel is not a member of the council.

The vote comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East to further negotiate the cease-fire and hostage agreement.

As he departed Cairo earlier Monday for Tel Aviv, Blinken called it a “critical moment.”  “My message to governments throughout the region, to people throughout the region: If you want a cease-fire, press Hamas to say yes,” Blinken told reporters. “If you want to alleviate the terrible suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, press Hamas to say yes.

“If you want to get all the hostages home, press Hamas to say yes,” he continued. “If you want to put present Palestinians and Israelis alike on the path to more durable peace and security, if you want to prevent this conflict from spreading, press Hamas to say yes.”

—-

It is very notable that Bibi Netanyahu did not agree anywhere publically. Greenfield says there are reasons and that he is in agreement. So now Hamas must agree, stressed by everyone, but Israel? We don’t see their agreement. This is part of the reason why Russia abstained and again Mr.Lavrov describes these techniques and tactics well in his BRICS speech. https://sovereignista.com/2024/06/11/lavrov-addresses-media-as-two-day-brics-summit-concludes/

“The United States administration insists that Israel accepted the deal without any formal announcement from the Israeli government, despite far-right Israeli ministers publicly stating their refusal to end the war on Gaza by any mean.”  https://t.me/QudsNen/109684

Comments Amarynth:  The crux of this matter is that it is the US that needs a cease-fire. First, Israel is losing. Hezbollah’s current strategy has transitioned to offensive action against Israel. They are willing to engage in a long war of attrition. And then there is our favorite Houthis, who are taking out ships one after the other. (Follow AHH in the Hearty Salon). Then there is the resistance which surprisingly is growing stronger and now the Israeli air force is under pressure, as their bombers are being taken out via missiles.  But besides all the physical manifestations, there is the visibility of the war crimes by Israel, the US, and the UK at the time of the  Nuseirat massacre.  Just the first aspect there, the use of an ambulance to smuggle in fighters is a heinous war crime and it piles up from then onward, to the use of the pier that was supposed to be there for emergency supplies for the Gazans.  In addition, the US sphere is also wracked with student and schools and other protests and they cannot stop the tsunami of knowledge that is flowing out of these actions. The average US person now knows what Israel is and what they are doing and the Rest of the World is out protesting at a level that is quite remarkable. This is new – Nobody can try and win an election on that basis. So, they are trying to stop the shooting and own the theater with their resolution. We will see – the trend does not support them and the West Asian and other countries, those that want to and will acknowledge this, smell ‘Afghanistan type’ blood in the water.

Mr Lavrov made more comments, after BRICS.  

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov spoke about the creation of a state of Palestine during a press conference following the meeting of BRICS ministers

Lavrov said that Russia consistently condemned the measures that Israel began to apply in response to the Hamas terrorist attack, noting the unacceptability of these actions. He added that Israel’s operation must be stopped immediately and that after, it is necessary to proceed without pause to the full creation of the State of Palestine according to UN rules.

The foreign minister noted that all initiatives of Russia and Arab countries at the UN were blocked by the United States.

“Literally yesterday, the UN Security Council adopted an American draft resolution. It contained information about supposedly reached agreements between Hamas and Israel and the transfer of hostages. We tried to get confirmation that such an agreement exists. But the Israeli delegation did not confirm anything; The Israelis said they would not participate in endless and pointless negotiations. They noted that the goal of eliminating Hamas remains unchanged. This is sad,” said Lavrov.

Comments Amarynth:  So what shall we conclude?  That this resolution is a red herring I would think to attempt to make the other side (all of the resistance factions), stop their process and stop their resistance.  Hell No!  I trust they understand it.