Israel's long-standing tensions with the United Nations have escalated significantly since October 7, with insults and accusations flying between the two. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the UN during a recent General Assembly address, claiming that it treats Israel unjustly. He stated, "Until this anti-Semitic swamp is drained, the UN will be viewed by fair-minded people everywhere as nothing more than a contemptuous farce."
Over the past year, the UN has repeatedly accused Israel of committing "genocide" in its military operations in Gaza. In response, Israeli officials have charged the UN with bias and even labeled the UN Secretary-General as "an accomplice to terror."
The exchange of harsh words has intensified, particularly following Israel's increased military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Cyrus Schayegh, a professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute, noted, "There has been a great deterioration... It has gone from fairly bad to really bad."
Since the attack by Hamas on October 7, UN agencies and representatives have issued numerous condemnations regarding Israel's response in Gaza. Daniel Meron, Israel's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, expressed feelings of betrayal, stating, "We feel the UN has betrayed Israel."
The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 individuals in Israel, mostly civilians, with ongoing hostage situations complicating the aftermath. In contrast, Israeli military actions in Gaza have reportedly led to over 41,500 deaths, primarily among civilians, according to the health ministry in Gaza. The UN has validated these figures as reliable.
Israel has particularly criticized UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, and called for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to resign after his comments about the historical context of the conflict.
Even before the October 7 incident, Israel complained about perceived bias within the UN, citing the disproportionate number of resolutions directed at the country. Since the UN Human Rights Council's inception in 2006, over one-third of its more than 300 condemnatory resolutions have focused on Israel.
Critics argue that Israel has consistently ignored various UN resolutions, including those affirming the right of Palestinian refugees to return or receive compensation. This ongoing non-compliance raises questions about Israel's standing in the international community, with experts asserting that a lack of accountability has led to a sense of impunity among all parties involved in the conflict.
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the UN rights office, expressed concern that the absence of accountability has emboldened those involved in the crisis. She stated that there is a perception that "impunity reigns," further complicating the situation for UN personnel on the ground.
The UN agency has experienced funding cuts after accusations of staff involvement in the October 7 attack, leading to claims that Israel is actively working to undermine UNRWA. Philippe Lazzarini, the agency's chief, condemned these actions, highlighting the severe loss of life and resources faced by UNRWA staff in Gaza.
Francesca Albanese, the UN independent rights expert on Palestinian territories, suggested that Israel's behavior could lead to its status as a "pariah" in the international community. She posed the question of whether Israel's UN membership should be reconsidered, given its apparent lack of respect for the organization.
In response, Meron labeled Albanese's statements as "anti-Semitic and really an embarrassment to the UN." Other experts warn that Israel's disregard for the UN is undermining the organization's credibility globally.
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