The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdullah Shawesh, has criticised the United States for vetoing his country’s application for full membership in the United Nations, alleging that the move tacitly supports Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Speaking over the weekend, Shawesh dismissed the US justification that Palestine’s UN membership would impede a two-state solution, labelling it as irrelevant. He accused the US of siding with the Israeli occupation and legitimising its attacks on Gaza.
“The US has vetoed Palestine’s request for full UN membership, asserting that it would not facilitate a two-state solution. This stance not only reinforces the unjust Israeli occupation but also legitimises its brutal actions,” Shawesh stated.
He further criticized the US for obstructing Palestinian rights to self-determination and for being a major supporter of the Israeli occupation.
According to Shawesh, the US veto effectively gives a green light to ongoing violence and reinforces the Israeli occupation. He argued that the recent wave of violence has resulted in a significant number of casualties among Palestinians, with over 34,000 killed since October 7, 2023.
The ambassador also highlighted the alarming statistics of injuries, arrests, and detentions, including women, children, journalists, and administrative detainees, as a result of the conflict.
Shawesh emphasized that these figures do not account for Gazans who have been detained and forcibly disappeared.
