Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan has demanded the United Nations Security Council condemn the “ruthless terror attacks” by Hamas against Israel.
“Israel has one, sole demand. Hamas’ war crimes must be unequivocally condemned. This unimaginable atrocity must be condemned. Israel must be given steadfast support to defend ourselves. To defend the free world,” Erdan said, speaking to reporters ahead of the Security Council’s emergency meeting on the situation in the Middle East on Sunday.
“In the wake of the Holocaust, the world swore, ‘never again,’” he continued. “This very body, the UN, was established on the ashes of the Holocaust. Yet yesterday, we watched as hundreds of Jews were massacred in cold blood. This is a ‘never again’ moment.”
“Today, many members of the international community are supporting Israel,” he told reporters. “But if history has taught us anything, we know that tomorrow that may not be the case,��� Erdan said, adding “the UN, the Security Council, have a very short memory when it comes to Israel.”
The ambassador said the reports and videos depicting Hamas’ kidnapping and killing of Israeli citizens are “blatant, documented war crimes.”
“What we are witnessing are war crimes, blatant, barbaric war crimes,” Erdan said. “Slaughtering civilians, using hostages, taking babies from their mothers. There are no words to describe such savagery.”
Erdan condemned Hamas as a “genocidal Islamist jihadist terror organization,” saying it is “no different than ISIS.” The Palestinian militant group is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, Israel and other countries.
“Israel is at the forefront of the war on terror,” Erdan told reporters.
Abhinav Thawait is a globe-trotting correspondent with a passion for international affairs. With a background in international relations, he offers a global perspective on the most pressing issues around the world. Abhinav’s curiosity takes his to the far corners of the earth, where he seeks to share untold stories and diverse viewpoints.
