The International Union of Muslim Scholars Condemns U.S. Veto at the Security Council and Calls for Global Action to End the War in Gaza
The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) strongly condemned the United States' use of its veto power to block a UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.
A Complicit Stance
In a statement, IUMS Secretary-General Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad Al-Sallabi described the U.S. position as tantamount to active participation in the genocide against the Palestinian people. He urged freedom-loving individuals worldwide to unite in efforts to end the war and alleviate the starvation affecting Gaza.
Dr. Al-Sallabi called on the U.S. administration, both current and future, to reconsider its policies towards Israel's aggression against the Palestinian people, aligning its actions with the principles of justice and international charters that guarantee the Palestinians’ right to resist occupation and achieve independence.
A Shield for Injustice
Dr. Al-Sallabi stated:
"The world was shocked by the United States' veto against a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, under the unacceptable pretext that the resolution might benefit Hamas. This justification is not only illogical but also reflects a political bias that shields the genocidal crimes committed by the occupation forces against unarmed civilians in Gaza."
He stressed that the U.S. veto encourages the continuation of the genocide and provides political cover for Israel to intensify its siege, exacerbating the humanitarian disaster in Gaza with acute shortages of food and aid and a devastating human toll.
A Global Call to Action
Dr. Al-Sallabi called on Muslim scholars and global advocates of freedom to unite their efforts to save Gaza, emphasizing that this cause transcends Palestinian protection, aiming to safeguard human values eroded by the absence of justice.
International Organizations Speak Out
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned the U.S. veto, describing it as a defiance of international will and a direct endorsement of Israeli crimes against Palestinians. In its statement, the OIC highlighted the urgent need to reform the UN Security Council to prevent the abuse of veto power in cases of genocide.
The OIC called for a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to enforce an immediate and unconditional end to Israeli aggression. It noted the devastating toll of over 44,000 martyrs and more than 105,000 injured, mostly women and children, underscoring the urgent need to halt the killing, starvation, and forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza.
The Ongoing Tragedy in Gaza
The United States exercised its veto on Wednesday, blocking a resolution that had gained the support of 14 out of 15 Security Council members. The resolution called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all captives.
For 18 consecutive years, Israel has maintained a severe blockade on Gaza, turning it into what has been described as "the largest open-air prison in the world." Amid dire humanitarian conditions, nearly 2 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced from their homes.
Since October 7, 2023, with U.S. backing, Israel's genocidal actions in Gaza have resulted in over 148,000 casualties, most of whom are children and women. In addition, over 10,000 individuals remain missing. The escalating famine has claimed the lives of numerous children and elderly, making this one of the most catastrophic humanitarian crises in recent history.
Source: Arabi21