Indonesia Questions UN Security Council Leadership Amid Palestine Crisis
New York, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia has raised concerns over the leadership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in maintaining peace as the humanitarian situation in Palestine continues to deteriorate. Speaking at the UNSC High-Level Open Debate at the UN Headquarters, Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi stressed that the Council’s leadership for peace is in question.
“We are here to speak about the leadership for peace. But peace is nowhere to be found for the people of Palestine,” Minister Marsudi stated during the session. She highlighted the alarming conditions in Palestine, where 41,000 people have lost their lives, millions have been displaced, and humanitarian aid has been blocked, urging the global community to reflect on their sense of humanity.
“If we cannot enforce UNSC-mandated tools to maintain peace, what remains of Council leadership for peace?” Marsudi questioned, underscoring the urgent need for action.
Indonesia proposed steps to restore the credibility and trust of the UNSC, advocating for a more democratic approach to leadership and decision-making. “Indonesia calls for a more democratic mechanism for effective decision making to avoid inaction in the face of grave threats to international peace and security,” Marsudi emphasized.
The minister concluded her speech by calling for immediate action, affirming that efforts to create peace must begin now rather than be deferred to the future.
On the same day, Marsudi met with the European Union’s Special Representative for the Gulf Region, Luigi Di Maio, to discuss developments in the Middle East, particularly the escalating conflicts in Palestine and Lebanon. She expressed deep concern over the situation in Lebanon, which has worsened due to Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip.
The meeting took place during the High-Level Week of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, which is being held at the UN Headquarters in New York from September 22–28, 2024.
