Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations condemned the General Assembly’s passage of a resolution urging an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict as “hypocritical” and ultimately aiding the terror group’s goal to destroy Israel.
On Tuesday, the U.N. General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages captured by Hamas, and compliance with international humanitarian law for the protection of civilians.
The resolution, which does not mention Hamas after the assembly rejected two proposed amendments, garnered substantial support, with 153 countries in favor, 10 against, and 23 abstentions. The United States and Israel were among the ten countries opposing the resolution.
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan, who highlighted the “heinous acts of sexual violence” Hamas terrorists committed in their Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel, decried the General Assembly’s move as “another hypocritical resolution.” The General Assembly’s resolution comes after a binding U.N. Security Council ceasefire resolution was vetoed by the United States on Friday.
In a speech on the U.N. floor ahead of the vote, Mr. Erdan asserted that Hamas needs to be held accountable for their attack and highlighted that Israel is already “taking every measure” to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza, charging that a ceasefire “has nothing to do with humanity.”
“Not only does this resolution fail to condemn Hamas for crimes against humanity, it does not mention Hamas at all,” said Mr. Erdan. “This will only prolong the death and destruction in the region; that is precisely what a ceasefire means.”
“I honestly don’t know how can someone look in the mirror and support a resolution that does not condemn Hamas and does not even mention Hamas by name,” he added.
Mr. Erdan stressed that Hamas intends to destroy Israel, and asked member states why they would “want to aid Hamas in continuing their rule of terror and actualizing their satanic agenda?”
During his speech, he held up a poster displaying the phone number of Hamas’ office in Gaza, urging U.N. members to call it if they want a “real ceasefire.”
“Tell Hamas to put down their arms, turn themselves in, and return our hostages,” he said. “This will bring a complete ceasefire that will last forever.”
‘Giving Terrorists a Free Pass’
The remarks, which the Israeli ambassador shared in video clips on his X account, expressed his disappointment with the resolution’s apparent failure to recognize Hamas’ atrocities.“Hamas raped women, committed heinous acts of sexual violence, took women and girls hostage, and is not only refusing to release them, but is also refusing the Red Cross’s access to them,” Mr. Erdan said.
“There are no war crimes more heinous than the atrocities Hamas committed, and those that support this resolution are giving the terrorists a free pass,” he added.
He stressed that a ceasefire would mean only one thing: “the survival of Hamas,” which, he emphasized, is “committed to the annihilation of Israel and Jews.”
Meanwhile, U.N. General Assembly President Dennis Francis underscored the resolution’s significance in putting “an end to the bloodshed” in Gaza.
“Right now, what we are seeing is an onslaught on civilians, the breakdown of humanitarian assistance, and profound disrespect for international law,” Mr. Francis said on the U.N. floor. “Even war has rules, and it is imperative we prevent any deviation from these principles and values.”
The text of the resolution recalled relevant Security Council resolutions on Palestine and expressed grave concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Alexander Marshik, the ambassador for Austria who urged an amendment to mention Hamas, said that his country, after serious consideration, welcomed the resolution’s demands for releasing all hostages and for humanitarian access. However, he said the resolution “falls short in many ways, including the right of Israel to ensure its citizens are safe and naming the terrorist group in taking of hostages.”
The ambassador for Egypt, which played a role in negotiating a temporary truce during which 100 hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, called the resolution “very simple, clear, and explicit.”
Israel’s ongoing military campaign, aimed at dismantling Hamas following the Oct. 7 attack that claimed more than 1,200 Israeli lives, has escalated the conflict to the entire Gaza Strip. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and Hamas terrorists, has reported over 18,000 deaths since the conflict began.
The United States, traditionally backing Israel, has increasingly called for more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and emphasized the need for better protection of civilians.
U.S. President Joe Biden, while reiterating support for Israel, said on Tuesday that the country is losing international support as the conflict persists with a high civilian toll in the Gaza Strip.
U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood condemned the draft resolution, calling it a “serious moral failure” for not mentioning Hamas in light of the group’s “acts of sexual violence and other unthinkable evils” on Oct. 7.
