Disillusioned, UN envoy to Gaza, Sigrid Kaag quits : David Isaac, Jewish News Syndicate (JNS)

 

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Summary
Sigrid Kaag, the U.N. Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, has resigned, citing deep frustration with both the U.N. system and the broader geopolitical stalemate surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict.

In a candid interview with the Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad, she criticized the U.N. for shifting its peace and security mandate into a limited humanitarian role and expressed doubts about any meaningful peace process under current conditions. Her resignation comes shortly after the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran on June 13, which she said rendered her mission even more difficult.

Quotes

• “I’m not trying to sound cynical… It’s good to send a signal that things need to change at the U.N. I think there needs to be reform.”

• “The peace and security mandate, which can still be normative, is increasingly being pushed into the humanitarian corner.”

• “I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen. The future doesn’t look good.”

• Kaag recounted that during one meeting with an Israeli official, she asked him “not to laugh” when she said her job title included promoting the peace process.