Dear Editor,
The crisis in the Middle East is getting worse, with a published report from the Lancet journal suggesting that fatalities in Gaza might surpass 186,000. This worrying situation is emphasized by the applause received by Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, from the US Houses of Congress. Netanyahu is on record for alleged war crimes and potential acts of genocide. This is certainly a vivid display of how the principles of global legislation are damaged by the US along with other powerful countries.
Israel’s targeted killings of Ismail Haniyeh, the political beacon of Hamas in Tehran, and Fuad Shukr, the paramilitary controller of Hizbullah in Lebanon, signify Israel’s agenda to escalate the tension rather than seeking a peaceful resolution.
It is disheartening to note that since October 7th, 2024, over 200 aid personnel from UNRWA have fallen victim to Israeli incursions in Gaza.
It is crucial that UN peacekeeping initiatives are grounded on an optimistic outlook of attaining peace within a reasonable timescale. However, several prolonged missions like the UNTSO Middle East (1948), UNFICYP in Cyprus (1964), UNPROFOR Golan Heights (1974) and UNFIL Lebanon (1978) have been unsuccessful in forging a peaceful resolution.
The deaths of far too many UN peacekeepers, including 47 from Ireland, while serving in Lebanon with Unifil, should instigate questions about the continued deployment of Irish forces there.
There are other methods that can be utilised to deliver humanitarian relief to the people of Lebanon, and other crisis spots that need high-quality UN peacekeepers on a more urgent basis.
In the Middle East, the concept of peacekeeping is rendered futile when genocide is ongoing, even more so when it has the backing of the most powerful nation in the world.
Regards,
EDWARD HORGAN,
Former UN Peacekeeper,
Castletroy,
Limerick.