MINISTER of Caricom and Foreign Affairs Dr Amery Browne may have ruffled some diplomatic feathers at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 29, when he stood in defence of women, children and aid workers being killed in Gaza by Israeli forces.
Browne, who led a six-person delegation from Trinidad and Tobago, delivered an impassioned half-hour-long speech, during which he criticised the hypocritical response by world powers to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Browne said clear double standards have been applied to Palestinian victims of the war, who are often viewed as collateral damage and less deserving of protection than other victims of conflict.
Browne stressed that he, TT, and the Caribbean opposed this world-view.
“Mr president, TT is deeply troubled by the escalation of conflict and tensions in the Middle East.
“We remain distressed by the ongoing war on Gaza and by the chilling flash points or expansion that are being deployed (daily).”
Palestine’s diplomatic representative looked on, slowly nodding her head in agreement as Browne alluded to the collective punishment being applied to Palestinians in the aftermath of the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
About 1,400 innocent people were killed in Israel during an attack by Hamas, a militant group based in Palestine.
However, several world leaders have condemned Israel's response. According to Palestinian health authorities, the death toll in Gaza since October 7 has exceeded 40,000 with near 100,000 wounded. Hospitals, schools, churches and other buildings in Gaza have been left in rubble owing to bombs dropped by Israel, who claim they are fighting Hamas.
In May 2024, International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Kharim Khan requested arrest warrants for Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders Yahiya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh.
On September 18, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, calling for a withdrawal within 12 months.
The resolution was partly based on an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which declared the occupation unlawful.
Browne said, “Only someone absolutely bereft of humanity would think that it is lawful and just and even godly to respond to atrocities committed on one awful day of terror by, in turn, committing atrocities after atrocities.
“How else are we to describe the killing of over 200 UN staff members – the highest death toll in UN history, and the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians including women and children?
“And this is not being done in secret. The entire world is watching and the global South in particular is appalled.”
Browne pointed to what he believed was a hypocritical approach from global powers.
The US has been Israel’s closest ally, providing billions in weapons, bombs and other military aid, spanning decades.
In 2016, the two countries signed a ten-year mem
