Americans are condemning the lack of action from the U.S. government to address the situation in Palestine as the United States remains the only permanent member of the United Nations Security Council that has not recognized the State of Palestine.
Among the 193 United Nations member states, more than 150 have already recognized the State of Palestine, but the U.S. remains the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that has not done so.
In a street interview in New York City, many Americans told China Global Television Network (CGTN) that they condemn the government's inaction on recognizing the State of Palestine and tolerance of Israel's military operation in Gaza.
"The point of recognizing Palestine is to say that therefore they have rights, and that must be respected. But all humans have rights that must be respected. And so, if we believe in human rights, we must stop the genocide right now. We love Spain, we love Italy. Those going to help the flotilla get through, standing up for human rights, humanitarians, saying we're here to deliver bread, we're here to deliver medicine. People like to call them activists. They're humans. They're humans who are saying we're going to do something to stop this. Now, if these other nations want to do something to stop it, they could. In a second, the U.S. could stop it, but they don't, because they support it," said Redema Heckte, an artist.
Heckte said the inaction represent that the lack of interest of the U.S. in upholding human rights around the world.
"We need to surge in immediate aid to end the famine immediately. Open through all borders, medicine, food, water. That is what is needed right now, immediately. Even if the conflict continues, the genocide continues, we need the aid going in now to save thousands and thousands and millions of lives. And that's not happening. The U.S. is not going to do that. For some reason, the U.S. is not interested in upholding human rights around the world, and it's making all of us less safe. As an American, I am less safe because of what the U.S. is doing over there. I'm a Jewish American. I'm an anti-Zionist Jewish American because I believe in human rights. And what we need is the United States government to also believe in human rights, but they don't; they believe in power," he said.
Jonathan Tucker, a lawyer, said the rest of the world should move ahead in helping the Palestinians regardless the stance of the United States.
"I think that we don't have to listen to the United States, their opinion is not the say-all and be-all. We have to move past that and realize that the rest of the world can make a decision without the inclusion of the United States. We don't have to stop and wait for them to catch up to the rest of the world in deciding about human rights and the existence of a community that existed longer than the United States has existed," she said.
Tucker added that at least the United States should prevent the situation in Gaza from further deteriorating.
"We should be intervening to stop the genocide and stop fueling this genocide. We should be cutting all of our funding to Israel and actually stepping in to protect the Palestinian people. That's the first thing we need to do. Whether or not people want to declare it a state, we can talk about that later. I think the rest of the world has already decided," she said.
William Archibal, a retiree, said he believes the Palestinians should have a state of their own.
"I definitely feel that Palestine should have their own state, their own country, state or country, near or next to the Israeli Jews," he said.
Americans slam gov't inaction on situation in Palestine
Americans slam gov't inaction on situation in Palestine
Americans slam gov't inaction on situation in Palestine
