EA on Pat Kenny Show: Israel’s “Open-Ended” Mass Killing in Gaza
UPDATE, DEC 23:
I joined Al Jazeera English’s Inside Story on Saturday to examine further the watered-down UN Security Council resolution on Gaza, with the revised draft failing to call for a suspension — let alone a cessation — of hostilities and allowing Israel to maintain an effective veto on any aid to civilians in the Strip.
I explain the reasons why the Security Council made the changes to ensure a US abstention, and consider whether the body can ever be effective in its address of mass killing.
Along the way, I knock back the propaganda of Moscow-based spokesman Dmitry Babich. I point out how Russia used its Security Council veto to enable — and join — the Assad regime in its mass killing of Syria’s civilians and to pursue its invasion of Ukraine.
I close with a statement pointing out the manipulation of the Council by the US, China, and Russia and argue that only a significant reform of UN structures will change this.
The other panellist is the former Pakistani Ambasssador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi.
ORIGINAL ENTRY, DEC 22: I joined Dublin NewsTalk’s Pat Kenny Show on Friday to analyze how a UN Security Council resolution was adopted on Israel and Gaza — but only after it was watered down to the point of impotence to ensure a US abstention rather than veto.
I explain the weakening of the resolution in three areas: 1) removing any call for the suspension of hostilities, let alone a ceasefire; 2) retaining an effective Israeli veto over aid coming into Gaza; and 3) removing any criticism of violation of international humanitarian law by all sides.
Given the lack of enforceable provisions, I evaluate Israel’s expansion of bombing and ground assaults as the death toll in Gaza passes 20,000, with more than 8,000 missing.
I consider the domestic politics both in Israel and in the US over the violence, adding a sidenote on the American scene: despite the media’s best efforts, Donald Trump might not yet be a shoo-in for the Republican President nomination.
Israeli troops continue to suffer high casualties: https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-8-more-soldiers-killed-amid-heavy-fighting-in-south-central-gaza-saturday/
Hundreds of IDF troops have been killed during the Gaza ground operation with reports of thousands more injured and disabled: https://www.timesofisrael.com/war-caught-israeli-rehab-hospitals-unprepared-to-handle-number-of-wounded/
“The latest figures provided by the Defense Ministry indicate that 6,125 of the wounded are IDF soldiers and members of the Israel Police and other security forces. Of these, 2,005 have already been recognized as permanently disabled.”
So happy you were back on Al Jazeera’s Inside Story! And kudos for knocking back the propaganda of Moscow-based spokesman Dmitry Babich right off the bat. Excellent job from start to finish. I see they also took the opportunity to interview you for this good read: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/23/israel-gaza-war-wwii-palestine.
Catmari,
Thank you so more for the kind words. And thank you for the article, which I hadn’t seen!
Best for the holidays,
Scott