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France, Spain urge UN veto limits over Gaza crisis
(MENAFN) France and Spain have renewed their push to curb the use of veto powers at the UN Security Council, arguing that the mechanism has repeatedly hindered global action during humanitarian crises such as the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said at the Paris Peace Forum that the Security Council must undergo reform to better reflect modern geopolitical realities and restore credibility to its decisions. He emphasized France’s long-standing cooperation with Mexico on an initiative to limit veto rights in cases involving mass atrocities — a proposal now backed by over 20 nations.
“We want to make sure that two seats of the permanent Security Council are given to Africa, that Japan, Germany, and Brazil can have a seat … to make decisions more legitimate,” Barrot stated. He added that the Council must take “moral and political responsibility” for upholding international law, stressing that reform is essential to “unlock decisions that are blocked by veto when basic human rights are affected.”
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares echoed these sentiments, saying Spain’s stance is consistent “whether it’s in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan or the Sahel.” He reaffirmed support for international law and the protection of civilians, describing UNRWA as “an indispensable UN body” on which “the lives of six million Palestinians in the Middle East depend.”
Albares stressed that aid must reach Gaza “without obstacles” and called for accountability for those behind attacks on humanitarian workers. He further stated, “We must recall that the rulings of the International Court of Justice are binding for everyone in the United Nations, including the state of Israel,” adding that “Israel cannot have a right of veto.”
Meanwhile, Mirjana Spoljaric-Egger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, warned that humanitarian operations in Gaza remain “highly complex, sensitive, and dangerous.” She urged that “the ceasefire must hold,” cautioning that any resumption of hostilities would devastate civilians who “have no resilience left.”
Spoljaric-Egger also warned that ignoring international law in Gaza and Sudan sends “a signal to 450 armed groups and non-state actors that everything is allowed,” noting that such actors are becoming increasingly powerful through modern technology.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said at the Paris Peace Forum that the Security Council must undergo reform to better reflect modern geopolitical realities and restore credibility to its decisions. He emphasized France’s long-standing cooperation with Mexico on an initiative to limit veto rights in cases involving mass atrocities — a proposal now backed by over 20 nations.
“We want to make sure that two seats of the permanent Security Council are given to Africa, that Japan, Germany, and Brazil can have a seat … to make decisions more legitimate,” Barrot stated. He added that the Council must take “moral and political responsibility” for upholding international law, stressing that reform is essential to “unlock decisions that are blocked by veto when basic human rights are affected.”
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares echoed these sentiments, saying Spain’s stance is consistent “whether it’s in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan or the Sahel.” He reaffirmed support for international law and the protection of civilians, describing UNRWA as “an indispensable UN body” on which “the lives of six million Palestinians in the Middle East depend.”
Albares stressed that aid must reach Gaza “without obstacles” and called for accountability for those behind attacks on humanitarian workers. He further stated, “We must recall that the rulings of the International Court of Justice are binding for everyone in the United Nations, including the state of Israel,” adding that “Israel cannot have a right of veto.”
Meanwhile, Mirjana Spoljaric-Egger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, warned that humanitarian operations in Gaza remain “highly complex, sensitive, and dangerous.” She urged that “the ceasefire must hold,” cautioning that any resumption of hostilities would devastate civilians who “have no resilience left.”
Spoljaric-Egger also warned that ignoring international law in Gaza and Sudan sends “a signal to 450 armed groups and non-state actors that everything is allowed,” noting that such actors are becoming increasingly powerful through modern technology.
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